On the one hand, 50 Pequot Ave. in New London looks like an albatross around Pfizer's neck.Who in the world is going to come along and take this three-tower, 700,000-square-foot office complex off the company's hands, in the midst of a national meltdown in the commercial real estate market?

Who in the world is going to come along and take this three-tower, 700,000-square-foot office complex off the company's hands, in the midst of a national meltdown in the commercial real estate market?On the other hand, it is a spectacular 33-acre waterfront setting with big views. The buildings are fairly new and in excellent condition. And they can be rented furnished.

On the other hand, it is a spectacular 33-acre waterfront setting with big views. The buildings are fairly new and in excellent condition. And they can be rented furnished.There's a parking garage with room for 1,800 cars and outside parking with another 295 spaces. Amenities include dining facilities and a fitness center.

There's a parking garage with room for 1,800 cars and outside parking with another 295 spaces. Amenities include dining facilities and a fitness center.There's even a helipad. You'd just have to paint over the Pfizer logo.

There's even a helipad. You'd just have to paint over the Pfizer logo.How many slick corporate headquarters campuses are on the market, ready to move right in to?

How many slick corporate headquarters campuses are on the market, ready to move right in to?As corporate headquarters go, this is hardly a fixer upper.

As corporate headquarters go, this is hardly a fixer upper.It is this more optimistic perspective you will more likely hear from Jonathan Putnam, executive director of the Hartford office of Cushman & Wakefield, the global real estate company that has the listing for the Pfizer property in New London.

It is this more optimistic perspective you will more likely hear from Jonathan Putnam, executive director of the Hartford office of Cushman & Wakefield, the global real estate company that has the listing for the Pfizer property in New London.When Pfizer announced last fall that it would be closing its New London complex, built in 2001, the company said it would try to sell or lease the property.

When Pfizer announced last fall that it would be closing its New London complex, built in 2001, the company said it would try to sell or lease the property.Putnam told me the focus now is on finding a tenant or tenants for the buildings, although they are also for sale. There's no specific asking price, though.

Putnam told me the focus now is on finding a tenant or tenants for the buildings, although they are also for sale. There's no specific asking price, though."It's just too large, and there are too many possibilities to put a price on it," Putnam said.

"It's just too large, and there are too many possibilities to put a price on it," Putnam said.The principal objective is to find a single tenant that might use the buildings as they were intended, as a headquarters office complex. Although the buildings have served as Pfizer's research headquarters, there are no laboratories, just offices.

The principal objective is to find a single tenant that might use the buildings as they were intended, as a headquarters office complex. Although the buildings have served as Pfizer's research headquarters, there are no laboratories, just offices. The space could be subdivided, Putnam said. The smallest amount of space that would likely be rented at first would be about 100,000 square feet, although smaller spaces might be made available later, if larger tenants are in place, Putnam said.

The space could be subdivided, Putnam said. The smallest amount of space that would likely be rented at first would be about 100,000 square feet, although smaller spaces might be made available later, if larger tenants are in place, Putnam said.The complex lends itself to be being divided, Putnam said, because it has three buildings.

The complex lends itself to be being divided, Putnam said, because it has three buildings.The leases would typically be for a minimum of five years and more likely 10 years for a larger space.

The leases would typically be for a minimum of five years and more likely 10 years for a larger space.Pfizer said last fall it is planning to phase out its use of the New London facility over two years, consolidating local employees at its Groton site.

Pfizer said last fall it is planning to phase out its use of the New London facility over two years, consolidating local employees at its Groton site.But some space in New London could be made available much sooner, as the transition is carried out, Putnam said.

But some space in New London could be made available much sooner, as the transition is carried out, Putnam said.Putnam said Cushman & Wakefield is just finalizing its marketing campaign for the project, and he said the property will be offered nationally and internationally.

Putnam said Cushman & Wakefield is just finalizing its marketing campaign for the project, and he said the property will be offered nationally and internationally.But he said the most likely takers would come from a market close by, Connecticut, New England or the New York metro areas being some possibilities.

But he said the most likely takers would come from a market close by, Connecticut, New England or the New York metro areas being some possibilities."You look at the same geographic area and then in concentric circles from there," he said.

"You look at the same geographic area and then in concentric circles from there," he said.Putnam said there's been some interest, although he said he can't be more specific.

Putnam said there's been some interest, although he said he can't be more specific.In general, he sounded genuinely enthusiastic about the prospects of finding a single large tenant for 50 Pequot.

In general, he sounded genuinely enthusiastic about the prospects of finding a single large tenant for 50 Pequot."It's a beautiful building in great condition. It is really a very attractive design, with great views, very dramatic views. This is considered a new building in our state, because there has not been a lot of new construction," he said.

"It's a beautiful building in great condition. It is really a very attractive design, with great views, very dramatic views. This is considered a new building in our state, because there has not been a lot of new construction," he said."Obviously the waterfront location is something that could attract a headquarters type (customer)."

"Obviously the waterfront location is something that could attract a headquarters type (customer)."I know that most everyone in New London wishes Putnam the best of luck.

I know that most everyone in New London wishes Putnam the best of luck.If he manages to put cars in all those spaces and people at all those desks, he ought to get a hero's parade down Bank Street.

If he manages to put cars in all those spaces and people at all those desks, he ought to get a hero's parade down Bank Street.

This is the opinion of David Collins.