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Legacy Building

By Greg Alvarez

In honor of the death of Leona Helmsley, the "Queen of Mean" as she was called during the heyday of hate towards her in the early 1990's, I started thinking about the bad rap that generally feeds towards "developers" in general. A few times ago we discussed the instances where developers may go a little too far, all in the name of earning a buck. But it's interesting to look back on the life of Ms. Helmsley, as she was hated by just about everyone, but in the end, left a legacy of success in the world of development. Sure, there was a lot not to like about the woman: she was mean to her employees, she was sent to the slammer for tax evasion, she was successfully sued for her discriminatory views towards gays, she got her start as a real estate broker, etc., etc. But nobody seemed to quibble with the fact that she was very successful, along with her deceased husband, in orchestrating a splendid real estate empire. Hate the woman, not the game, as some may say.

A lot of good comes from those who are willing to build. Take for example in East Orange, New Jersey, where the long-decrepit Mayfair apartment building that required an emergency eviction of all occupants five years ago on account of the unsanitary, dangerous condition it had found itself, is experiencing a rebirth as a (relatively) affordable condominium building. Other major projects in the city are also signaling the beginning of a renaissance in this long-struggling place. On a downward turn since neighboring Newark's riots four decades ago, East Orange has turned the corner, lowering crime and attracting new development. The current owners of Mayfair, Mark Caller and Pinny Loketch of the GLC Group, have pinpointed another place where housing-starved denizens in this region can buy great places for less than what is usually demanded. Of course, those with an eye towards low-income residents rightly point out that the new development may equal gentrification. But at the same time, as in the words of the Mayfair's site manager, "What we're trying to do is rebuild a community here."

Another developer feel-good story comes from Fort Mill, South Carolina, where refugees from nearby Charlotte, North Carolina, and others, are flocking to the former sleepy mill town. One of the planned communities to be constructed is Kanawha, an "environmentally-oriented development," which at least sounds good. Aside from the environmental museum that would be part of the plan, there appear to be good people behind this project, including the York County Cultural and Heritage Foundation. In addition, the area will have access to light-rail service nearby beginning in the fall. The area has retained that small town character, even amidst the influx of new residents.

So even though developers deservedly get a bad rap for some of the things they pull from time to time, there are people in the business who want to go about it the right way. And even if they don't, sometimes the results allow some to overlook the nonsense that was required to get it done. Who knows, maybe when the hoopla surrounding Leona Helmsley's life fades from memory, all that will be left is the legacy of her efforts.

Full post as published by Kelo and Beyond on August 23, 2007 (boomark / email).