Raise the Hammer

LOL-aoa:

Yes, sorry, but I KNOW more about these buildings than the owners do. Yes, I KNOW the foundations are sound - from my visit to these buildings, and I do KNOW that the floors I visited on, were not sagging, and that the services (electric, HVAC and plumbing), on these floors were good, or they would not have been certified for occupancy. Also, there may be some upper floor units that may require more work than others, as a portion of the roof may have never been fixed.

"Have you ever owned a century building?"

Yes, one that dates back to around 1885 - around 15,000 square feet, and was totally rehabilitated in the last decade.

"Do you KNOW anything about century buildings?"

From above, Yes... and also from working to bring life back to around 12 (twelve) century buildings in our core since 1999, (totaling over 100,000 square feet of rehabilitated space in all--of which most recently is a building of around 25,000 square feet, half of which was built prior to 1875). Besides this, have also had the privilege of working on a 40 room castle from 1848, to make it functionally and financially viable for its owner, by getting an unconditional approval within three months from three city departments including Ontario Heritage Foundation who all had blocked the owners from attaining basic functionality for nearly 15 years.

"there are so many issues with these old buildings that the price to restore them quickly becomes prohibitive and that is why they get torn down and replaced."

Baloney. What you see here is a variant of "block busting". They are made to deteriorate, because there are tax incentives which owners accrue from such vandalism. They used to get torn down in the past because parking lots were allowed by the city, and it is great cash grab for uncreative minds. They gets torn down now in the hope that some big developers from out of town will see such vacant lands and buy it promptly on the basis of some poor drawings made by willing architects who dream of becoming rich and famous the easy way, and the media helps in selling such foolish dreams as it believes that to be progress.

"I have owned and worked on century buildings. The costs are huge."

Good for you. The costs for you may have been huge only if you did not know what you were doing, or are easily conned by consultants and contractors. I can tell you this from having worked on so many old buildings in my life, besides being an architect for over 30 years, and also having taught architecture at graduate and post graduate levels many years ago.

"If you disagree with the owners then why not step up to the plate and fork over some money and buy them from Blanchard and then you can do with them what you think is right."

Again, I would, if he is open to such an idea. Your passing on my earlier email to him, and setting up a meeting could be a great way to test your idea.

But my guess as every one here, is that he has been sitting on it for a decade with the intention of not fixing them or selling them, but just to tear them down, and sell the vacant lands for a huge 'notional' profit.

"Rents in the core especially in this type of old building are very low. People just don't want to live in the core. People live there because they cannot live in nicer better places. Lets make the core better and nicer then people will want to live there and finally the city will turn the corner and stop being supported by the burbs."

Once again, do you see the garbage you write. All properties, I have worked on in the core, for various owners and myself, are fully tenanted with high quality tenants who live here out of choice, because it is convenient or they opted out of life in suburbia.

The city core has already turned the corner, and people like Blanchard and you who are blind to the immense potential that the remaining run-down properties offer, are holding the core hostage for quick profits.

And by the way it is the urban city that subsidizes the 'burbs' and not the other way around. Do the math.

"How many properties have you branded? Or promoted? Or marketed? I am dieing to find out. In order to think that you can give advice in this area to man who has built up a sizable business doing exactly that then your answer must be truly impressive otherwise your offer is just pretentious."

The sizable business you mention is that of a Realtor, which is hardly a business, and more like a glorified service, given that one essentially place ads for owners in what was until recently a closed selling system, or some newspapers/magazines, and wait for buyers to show up and walk them thru with a fake smile, wearing your best suit. And if the sale works out, you make a chunk of money, and grow your business by hiring more sales people. You throw in property management services in the mix to people you have sold or rented for, and now you have the semblance of a business.

You are lucky if you know something about buildings as a Realtors, then maybe you start buying properties with all the cash flow from sales commissions, put together a pool of investors, and then you invent yourself as a owner... then the next leap is aspire to be a developer, if you know how to. This is the tricky part where most Realtors fail.

On Branding: The fact that this town worships and rewards wealth and bravado more than sincerity or intelligence, makes it very easy to become a "player" in the media.

You are mistaking Blanchard's media manufactured image with his ability to brand and market real estate. This is not branding, this is just small town behaviour working to promote the members of old boys club.

There is a down-to-earth Realtor in the core who has done more for downtown's growth, than Blanchard has ever down in a decade. You rarely hear of him in the press.

The peculiar manner in which Blanchard has managed to hammer a perfectly good project out of shape while polarizing the community even before he is out of the gates, speaks volumes of his ability to brand and market himself, and any new development he aspires for in Gore Park.

The only 50 condos that were built and sold in the core - within nine-month, bears my branding. It was intended for people in the film and theater industry across the region, (hence the name FilmWorks Lofts), a process that was underway, but the owner had a change of plans, and it got sold to various individuals from different background, who took a fancy to the branding and the way the project was presented.

"I suspect but do not know that actually you have done none of the above. I suspect but do not know that what you are really good at is spending other peoples money because you cannot spend your own to do the same kind of project."

I would love to invite you to the core someday to make you eat your words, and also to show you all that has been happening, while you have been dreaming of smashing every little bit that is left standing. But for that, you will have to learn to walk on the ground first. The clouds you are in presently will prevent you from recognizing the realty down here.

Why do I continue engaging with you? Because, I continue to be hopeful that people like you who have destroyed the peace of mind for the rest of us who are actually rebuilding this city, will one day have a better understanding of how healthier and safer cities grow in our times.

Mahesh P. Butani