In their words...
The funniest and most insightful comments on real estate
“There’s always been a certain ‘ressentiment,’ as the French would say, of the people who do well.” Boston Properties chairman Mort Zuckerman, channeling his Montreal roots to talk about the perception of the 1%. (Colbert Report)
“[The buyer] was in the penthouse less than five minutes and said ‘I’ll take it.’ ” Douglas Elliman broker
Vickey Barron, on the $50.9 million, record-setting deal for the Walker Tower penthouse Downtown. (Wall Street Journal)
“The format will be something new, which is why we’re schlepping around Italy.” Restaurateur
Shelly Fireman, on his plans for a new Italian eatery at 225 Park Avenue South. (New York Post)
32 March2014 www.TheRealDeal.com
“We are discontinuing our marketing efforts and respecting the letter of intent.” Brown Harris Stevens superbroker John Burger, on the deal for the River House private club that put an end to his sky-high $130 million listing.
“We have no plans for a property tax increase.” Mayor Bill de Blasio, making good on a promise he made on the campaign trail. (Wall Street Journal)
“Mr. Rosen has previously referred to the Picasso curtain as a ‘schmatte,’ the Yiddish word for rag.” The New York Landmarks Conservancy, in a lawsuit it filed to block Aby Rosen’s removal of Pablo Picasso’s “Le Tricorne” from the Four Seasons Restaurant lobby. (DNAinfo)
“He suddenly found himself in the middle of the terrible, terrible downturn, and it was almost impossible not to get crushed.”
“I don’t know if Durels is that good.” A tongue-in-cheek Marc Holliday, on whether leasing director Steve Durels would be able to make SL Green’s ambitious goal of leasing 500,000 square feet per quarter.
Larry Silverstein, on the fall of real estate developer Kent Swig. (New York Times)
“It was a wellbehaved llama.” Justin Moore-Lewy, an executive at advertising firm HeLo, on producing a Super Bowl spot starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and a llama at 4 World Trade Center. (Wall Street Journal)
“It’s the Johnson & Johnson strategy of getting in when they’re young!” Tech guru Jack Hidary, on why brokers should build relationships with startups working in shared office spaces.