Developer in a spin
If proof were needed that the pursuit of fitness is all-consuming in this industry, a developer missing the launch of his own scheme has to be up there. So what if the man in question – who shall remain nameless, on these pages at least – developed one of London’s most iconic buildings? Or if he invested heart, soul and a whole pile of cash in the process? Because while more than 100 people turned up to celebrate the launch of the scheme, he was not one of them. Why? He had a spin class to go to, don’t you know. Now that is dedication to cardio.
(Very) long lunch? It’s a deal
The art of doing deals over leisurely lunches lives on – at least for Jorge Pérez. According to the FT’s How To Spend It supplement, the chairman and chief executive of Miami-based property developer Related Group ironed out the difficulties on one of his latest projects over three hours and a feast of Dover sole, fettuccine with garlic, “a few” bottles of sauvignon blanc and “plenty of tequila”. Impressive. Diary would need a siesta after that fiesta.
Activities are a hard cell
The Collective has appeared on website Vice as part of its “rental opportunity of the week” series. It highlights the Collective’s 500-bedroom community living scheme in Old Oak Common, W3, which it calls “halls of residence for adults”. Suggestions of what to do locally include “visiting damaged men at Wormwood Scrubs prison, or go to the nearby Hammersmith hospital when they assault you furiously with a biro”. Not bad for £1,083 pcm.
There’s no [height] limit
The prize for the wittiest avoidance of answering a question at the Urban Land Institute conference at Goldman Sachs this week came during the post-event drinks. Goldman’s global co-head of real estate, Jim Garman is (at least) 6ft 6in tall. Eastdil Secured managing director James McCaffrey is of average height. Eastdil runs a jolly in the US that involves real estate moguls bonding while pretending to love fly fishing. Garman seemed, to a listener, to be angling for an invite. “We have a height limit,” said McCaffrey. Ouch. Message received.
I’m David Partridge
Google David Partridge and the familiar mugshot of Argent’s chief executive pops up at the top of the search. But look a little closer and it becomes clear that all is not as it seems. Because the accompanying Wikipedia profile describes the Ibiza-loving raver as a 37-year-old retired professional footballer who represented Wales in international matches. A case of mistaken identity? Or was Partridge a star defender in a previous life? Diary can’t work it out – not least because he doesn’t look a day over 21.
Make Friends at work
When the clock strikes about lunchtime, Diary can hardly think of a better proposition than a sandwich and a date with Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, Ross and Monica. And we know we are not alone. Props then to the Office Group. Ever ahead of the curve on matters of integrating work and life, the workspace provider has daily screenings of Friends in the theatre of its Henry Wood House office in W1. If nothing else, the choice of series, more than 20 years after the first episode was screened, is a tribute to its enduring appeal. Could there be some subliminal messaging at work from TOG at play here?
