In June 2008, the Italian real estate magnate Valter Mainetti confirmed that he, along with his company, the Sorgente Group, had the majority share of the world famous Flatiron Building at 23rd Street and 5th Ave. In January 2009, Mainetti revealed his intentions for the property: a hotel conversion. The upside is that the building’s facade must remain the same, according to the Landmarks Preservation Commission—it is already zoned for hotel space....more