NEW YORK CITY-Media tenant Meredith Corp., publisher of the Ladies’ Home Journal and other popular titles, is consolidating from two separate Grand Central District offices into nine floors at Cohen Brothers Realty Corp.’s 805 Third Ave. A source familiar with the deal tells GlobeSt.com the 212,594-square-foot headquarters deal is for 10-plus years.

Meredith is consolidating from 125 Park Ave., where it occupies about 143,000 square feet, and 375 Lexington Ave. The media and marketing company, which plans to complete its relocation by late 2011, will anchor the 31-story office tower. According to a release from Cohen Brothers, the Meredith lease brings 805 Third to more than 90% occupancy.

“This is a company that I’ve worked with on many occasions and have great admiration for, so when the opportunity presented itself to bring Meredith to 805 Third as our anchor tenant, I was determined to create the kind of corporate environment needed to get this deal done,” Charles S. Cohen Cohen, president and CEO of Cohen Brothers, says in a release. The two firms have worked together via Cohen Brothers’ showroom and design center portfolio, in which Meredith’s Traditional Home division has often staged trade events.

At the Bloomberg Real Estate Briefing event Thursday morning, Cohen offered some additional insights on the deal as part of a panel discussion. “Quality tenants are in short supply” and demand is weak, Cohen said in response to a question from moderator Rob Urban of Bloomberg News. “Nothing makes a deal competitive other than attractive pricing.” Asking rents at the 525,000-square-foot property are in the mid-$50s per square foot, according to the New York Post.

“As strategic adviser to Cohen Brothers’ Manhattan portfolio, we targeted a financially strong tenant to create a world-class headquarters opportunity for 805 Third, and Meredith fit the bill perfectly,” says Bruce Mosler, co-chairman of Cushman & Wakefield. Mosler and C&W colleagues Arthur Mirante and David Glassman represented Cohen Brothers, while a C&W team of Edward Weiss, Joseph Cabrera and Robert Thuss negotiated on behalf of Meredith.

Meredith reportedly had planned a move and consolidation for some time; in July, Crain’s New York Business reported that the tenant was on the verge of signing of a lease for more than 200,000 square feet at another property near its 125 Park and 375 Lexington sites. The lease at 805 Third brings Meredith about seven blocks north into the Plaza District instead, on the easterly blockfront between 49th and 50th streets. It’s for the sixth floor and floors 22 through 29, and will include a TV studio for live broadcasts.