Inside NYC’s Jenga building, where Gustavo Arnal jumped to his death
The 18th-floor lower Manhattan apartment at 56 Leonard St. where Bed Bath & Beyond’s chief financial officer Gustavo Arnal jumped to his death Friday night is expected to hit the rental market in the coming weeks, The Post has learned.
Arnal, 52, and his wife, Alexandra Cadenas-Arnal, had leased the unit in 2020 for $17,500 a month, records show. But sources told The Post they were renting it for nearly $18,500 at the time of his death.
His wife was inside the home when her husband took his own life, and Arnal did not say a word to her before he plunged from the balcony of the home, sources told The Post.
Made up of three bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, the Tribeca residence, in the Herzog & de Meuron-designed building, features two separate terraces — one in the primary bedroom and the other in the main living area.
The 60-story building has been nicknamed “the Jenga Building” for its unique look, best known for its purposely misaligned apartments stacked atop each other, resembling the popular game.
Photos obtained by The Post show the layout of the home, which spans over 2,300 square feet and boasts skyline views of downtown.
The living area features solid white oak flooring and 11-foot ceilings with electronic shades throughout. The open kitchen has satin etched cabinets with a black granite island with breakfast bar seating.
Building amenities include a 75-foot pool, a fitness center, movie theater, lounges and treatment rooms.
Alexandra and their two grown daughters have vacated the home. As they were spotted leaving, a doorman approached the grieving women and said, “I’m so very, very sorry,” as two men dressed in black escorted them to a waiting black van.
While Arnal did not leave a note or letter behind before his suicide, The Post has come to learn that the executive had been facing a $1.2 billion “pump-and-dump” class-action stock fraud suit filed Aug. 23.
The lawsuit accuses Arnal, Chewy.com founder Ryan Cohen, and others of artificially inflating the troubled houseware giant’s share price. A week prior, Cohen bagged an eight-figure payday, earning a $68.1 million profit on the stock, after dumping his entire activist stake in the struggling retailer.
Two days before Arnal’s death, Bed Bath & Beyond announced its intent to slash its workforce by 20% and close about 150 stores amid financial turbulence.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
Read the full article Here