April 17, 2004
Can Trump Do Chicago?
Everyone seems to know that Bill is The Apprentice, and is going to be the "project manager" for Donald Trump's new Trump International Hotel & Tower. The Times looks at the building and how progress is going so far. The building, a 90-story hotel and condo will replace the Chicago Sun Times building, which Rachelle walks by every day and is supposed to be finished in 2007. Before 9/11, the building was planned to be 150-story building and the tallest in the world. After initial plans came out for the building, Architecture critics lambasted the plans, which were re-worked for a smaller building and were better received.
The Times brings up a good point when it asks, "Why entrust such an important-sounding role on a complicated construction project to someone of Mr. Rancic's experience?" Trump says that Bill will be "working with a team of highly trained professionals who have done nothing but build buildings their whole lives — including me." I think the real question is "what Bill is going to be the project manager of?" Is he going to manage sales of the units, the construction project, or something in between? According to The Times, sales of the units is going well, despite being higher in price than typical luxury apartments in Chicago. The condos run from $579,000 to $15 million, with many already in contract. 325 of the 461 residential units and 128 of the 200 hotel rooms are already spoken for. That's impressive for a building that has yet to even secure all its financing yet. Looks like Bill won't be needed for sales. I'm almost certain that selecting Bill as the project manager of the whole building would be a foolish decision since he has no construction experience. Maybe he can supervise community relations or something (although that probably won't be easy either).
Can Trump take his name to another city and build a successful building or is this going to be another unsuccessful Trump venture? I guess we'll find out in a few years.
- NY Times: Chicago May Give 'Apprentice' Lesson in Reality
Posted by tien mao in TV at 8:20 PM
I heard that the demolition is taking its time. I guess Trump is having second thoughts or what? Maybe too busy shooting Apprentice 3 to demolish a building! The fact that they are demolishing a historical landmark, maybe they're being haunted by ghosts or something. What a shame to waste. They haven't heard of the terms conservation, restoration, preservation, renovation remodelling or reconstruction... Another hotel? You gotta hand it to Trump. He knows how to modernize and uprise, even if it means losing a significant part of the city. Can Trump do Chicago? Sure. Now, can Bill do Trump? hmm... He's a nice guy. He's a smart guy. Very versatile, has great desire, and is a perfectionist. Right now, he's hired. But to do what? Guess we have to ask him ourselves.
Posted by: jordan at December 28, 2004 1:43 PM
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jordan: I heard that the demolition is taking its time. I guess Trump is having second t... {read on}