The General Motors Building, Midtown Manhattan, NY
The General Motors Building takes up an entire city block of midtown Manhattan, facing Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, 58th Street, and 59th Street. The busiest store in the world can be found through a massive glass cube, down a spiral staircase or a glass elevator, into the basement to, you guessed it, the Apple Store. Other high-end retailers take up space, and there’s plenty. The colossal building leases an astounding 1.7 million-square-feet. In 1982 General Motors sold their namesake skyscraper. It changed hands several times, however, in 1998 Trump and insurance company Conesco teamed up to purchase it for $878 million.
Trump chipped in only $11 million for half a stake in the General Motors Building but wasted no time emblazoning the tower with his name in gigantic gold letters. The white marble covered building is 50 stories high and was completed in 1968. Trump cashed in on his investment in 2004, selling the building to developer Harry Macklowe for $1.4 billion whose dramatic real estate loss in 2015 was chronicled by author Vicky Ward’s 2004 book, The Liar’s Bell. Today, the building is worth about $3.4 billion.
Trump’s Childhood Home
Built-in 1940 by Trump’s dad, real estate developer Fred Trump, the quaint Tudor-style house was their family home until the young Trump was four years old and they upgraded to a larger home. Now it’s a historic relic, or at least a novelty, attracting curiosity and a $2.9 million price tag—far out pricing comparably-sized properties in its upscale Queens neighborhood. So, yes, it’s up for sale! The President of the United States’ childhood home could be anyone’s.
It’s a five-bedroom, 2,500-square-foot darling brick and stucco yellow house with a finished basement and hardwood floors. Inside, you’ll find a library, Trump memorabilia and a cut-out cardboard cut-out of the Prez. For a time, it was available on Airbnb for $725 per night, and the initial listing in August of 2017 ignited a viral craze triggering the media to come herding in droves to the property. I wonder who will end up with a little piece of Americana history?
New York's Iconic Empire State Building
Trump owned half of the Empire State building!.. kind of. . . for several many years. . . From 1994 to 2002, Trump held a 50 percent stake in New York City’s iconic skyscraper, widely recognized as the world’s tallest building after it was constructed in 1931, now the city’s fourth tallest building. What happened was this. A new investor, Japanese billionaire Hideki Yokoi, paid $42 million for the Empire State Building in 1991 and then handed it over to his daughter to own and operate. She proceeded to hook up with Trump, as a native N.Y.C. real estate mogul, giving him 50 percent ownership with no money down—they just handed it to him—in exchange for his commitment to pull off a hostile takeover by breaking the lease.
Trump was convinced that suing the leaseholders, Helmsley and Malkin, for negligence—rats, dark hallways, slow elevators, too many small tenants— would force them to sell their share to the new owners, and he and they would make a marvelous profit, into the billions! Prior to suing Helmsley and Malkin, Trump announced his plan to “restore the Empire State Building to its rightful position as a world-class real estate asset.” The courts ruled against him and he sold his share to the leaseholders. All told, he made $8 million and, even better, he can call himself, “New York’s Native Son” who once owned half of the Empire State Building.
Grand Hyatt Hotel, Midtown Manhattan, NY
The historic New York Commodore Hotel located at Grand Central Terminal became the Grand Hyatt Hotel after Trump and the Hyatt Corporation worked together in the 1970s to purchase and renovate the 1919 building with a sleek modern atrium and a glass-sheathed facelift, what would become Trump’s signature mirrored glass and stainless steel façade. It opened in 1980 to wild fanfare, winning the spotlight for the gregarious Trump. It would become the launchpad for Trump’s career as a New York real estate developer. With behind the scenes help from his dad, Fred Trump, Donald won media attention and accolades for being the bold entrepreneur who dared to take on the major project of developing the site and rejuvenating the deteriorating railway hotel and neighboring area with Grand Hyatt’s gleaming high rise.
His vision revitalized a core section of New York City. A significant aspect of the deal Trump brokered was an enormous, 40-year tax break from the city. In an unprecedented move, Trump negotiated this $4 million a year tax break which was the first ever of its kind for a commercial property. It’s cost New York City over $360 million in lost tax revenue to date. Procuring assistance from the government like this would become part of Trump’s strategy, part of the artful nature of his deal-making. In 1976, while this huge deal was going down, Trump told The New York Times how he loves "financial creativeness", saying "There’s a beauty in putting together a financial package that really works, whether it be through tax credits, or a mortgage financing arrangement...” But today, another New York real estate developer has announced plans to demolish the Grand Hyatt and build a bigger, better, more beautiful mix-use project with more luxurious, but scaled back, Hyatt accommodations and new subway access points. The plan, which considerably increases N.Y.C. tax revenue, awaits city approval. Look for the demo crew in 2020.
Trump Waikiki
This towering island luxury property boasts of Trump’s signature resort experience, but technically, Trump International Hotel & Tower Waikiki is not owned or developed by The Trump Organization. Irongate, a Los Angeles real estate company, built the hotel which opened in 2009 and leases the Trump name, it’s a win-win arrangement. Trump likes to showcase his name and name recognition helps fill the 500 ocean view rooms. It’s a beauty.
Five-star, exclusive Honolulu accommodations towering over white sand beaches, where one may indulge in outdoor dining, live entertainment, a private fitness center, a library, the spa, and a private business center, just in case you're forced to go to Hawaii on a business trip.