Summit Properties, which owns 2.66 million square feet of apartments in 90 New York City buildings, took an opportunistic — and surprising — first plunge into the sizzling Manhattan office market, Realty Check has learned.

Summit bought the leasehold of 444 Madison Ave., an Art Deco-style, 42-story tower between East 49th and 50th streets, sources said. The price was $41.7 million, according to public records.

The news came as something of a surprise. It was widely reported last month that a different New York developer and landlord, Savanna, was the buyer of 444 Madison or that it was partners with Summit in the purchase.

Summit Properties bought the leasehold at 444 Madison Ave. for was $41.7 million. JLL

In fact, said an insider, the two highly respected firms “were originally goin

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