The developers offered Joe Nastasi, a 73-year-old Sicilian mechanic, millions of dollars in cash, high-rise apartments, even to name their new luxury skyscraper after him — if only he would sell them his nondescript, three-story commercial building in Long Island City, Queens, which was key to building the project.

 

Mr. Nastasi, who has lived on the top floor of the squat bank building since the 1970s, was unimpressed: No deal.