By Agent X
Did you hear the extremely loud noise coming from the loop last Tuesday night? It was the sound of over 250 Realtors kicking off the Spring new construction selling season at Chicago Agent’s event at the W Hotel.
Agent X was there, hiding under one of the tables listening to everything. Agent X observed the who’s who in attendance, though the obvious candidates were nowhere to be found. Condominium developer William Warman was spotted looking for investors to buy part, or all, of the 52-story mixed-use tower he hopes to build at 300 N. Michigan Ave. According to sources, Warman’s Provence Development Group has extended the closing several times and is now offering a pre-sale, presumably to make it easier to land financing to build the project and make the deal look less risky to prospective lenders … hmmm.
Agent X discovered someone left a pair of spectacles behind, while another attendee made a spectacle and had to be removed from the rocking after party sponsored by National City Mortgage. Also, the event briefly turned into a job fair as folks hit up Mike Maier of MCL for the highly sought-after director of marketing position. Another exhibitor had two different sales agents from a competitive developer whisper in his ear, “Just between you and me, do you have any openings?” less than ten minutes apart.
And to no one’s surprise, Phil Burnstine showed up to have a good time. We all know he’s a sucker for free food and drinks. But who isn’t, really? Anna Fineran with Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell in Frankfort was the lucky winner of the T-Mobile Blackberry at our event. Good thing she decided to make the drive! Meanwhile, McKeough decided in advance to purchase two booths for the next New Construction Collection because five men can’t fit comfortably behind a 6-foot table. Payoff of the night goes to Jim Psyhogios of Frankel & Giles, who convinced a bellhop to run out and get batteries to light up the X/O model display at their booth.
In other news, is successful suburban developer J. Lawrence homes expanding into the city? Stay tuned to these pages for future details. Jeff Polanzi was named regional vice president for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s Northwest Chicago area. Kathleen Ryan, who is singing the ever-popular tune, “I got the latest @Properties listing” in d-Minor, opened Opera Realty last week to market and sell the Opera Lofts development in Bronzeville.
Agent X was at the Midwest Builder’s Show on March 13. As expected, there were more people shmoozing at the free lunch at Morton’s than perusing the actual show. Always nice to see Bob Dickenson from Greater Illinois Title.
Lastly, with the condo hotel fad waning, Agent X wonders if developers shouldn’t just go back to either building condos or building hotels. Robert Falor recently announced the company’s third failure of the condo hotel concept, this time the attempted Hotel Blake conversion in Printers Row. Maybe it’s time to rethink this concept and get back to the basics. I say three strikes and you’re out!
Agent X always loves a party, so maybe I could snag an invite to a birthday party in early April. You know how to reach me: agentx@chicago.staging312.com. Here are some people who didn’t invite me to a party in late March: Norris McNamara celebrated on March 15, Michael Weber on March 16, Adam Fridman, Susan Cooney and Stuart Hanson all partied on March 18. Tom Kusmierz celebrated on March 21, Matt Silver on March 24 and then Edward Ferree will celebrate on Mar. 25.
Agent X
Keepin’ the “real” in real estate
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Copyright 2008 Agent Publishing LLC