But several retailers said that the developers had offered incentives such as free rent and construction financing to lure sought-after tenants.
In other areas, there are great concerns about skyrocketing rents as developers find new projects to lure higher-paying tenants.
Even some of the faux lofts have started offering special deals to lure tenants, like a month's free rent on a 12-month lease.
And because of tax abatements, the project's developers might have an edge in luring tenants.
The state and the city have provided relatively large tax breaks and cash incentives to lure tenants.
Historic buildings are usually in older, partly abandoned districts, to which it is harder to lure tenants.
The possibility of using low rents to lure tenants out of Manhattan is behind other projects in the area.
"How am I meant to lure tenants to apartments that face brick walls?"
The previous government had lured tenants with generous incentives.
It may use the slots to lure tenants to its buildings.