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Hotel Washington D.C. But a day later, his senior vice president of acquisitions and development, David Orowitz, stepped down from his post. The longtime Trump Organization employee oversaw various investments, including Trump’s residential real estate licensing deals, and was actively involved in renovating the Old Post Office into a 263 room luxury accommodation.
The historic landmark, just down the road from the White House, used to be the headquarters of the U.S. Post Office. It survived several demolition attempts after its former tenant moved out, and Trump won a 60 year ground lease four years ago after the U.S. General Services Administration put its development rights up for bid. The project became his kids’ baby — Ivanka oversaw the design, while Donald Jr. worked on leasing — but has run into its fair share of trouble, such as a tussle with the city over taxes, and a former partner backing out.
But it may be the Republican presidential candidate’s brash campaign, rife with controversial remarks, that has created the biggest roadblocks for the fledgling hotel. Its grand opening ceremony, where Trump, his wife, and his four adult children cut the symbolic red ribbon in front of flashing cameras, was held indoors as protesters picketed outside. The New York businessman also invited criticism for taking the time out to promote his hotel, just 13 days before the election.
Additionally, his anti-immigrant sentiments drove two star chefs, Jose Andres and Geoffrey Zakarian, to pull out of building restaurants in the D.C. hotel mere weeks after Trump kicked off his presidential campaign. Recently released depositions from lawsuits between the parties show that Orowitz was concerned about the potential fallout from his boss’ new political career.
“We need to talk, getting crushed over DJT comments about Latinos and Mexicans,” Jose Andres’ camp said to Ivanka over email. Orowitz, who was overseeing the redevelopment of the hotel, responded, “Ugh, this is not surprising, and would expect that this will not be the last we hear of it.” He implored, “At least for formal prepared speeches, can someone vet going forward?”
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“Hopefully the Latino community does not organize against us more broadly in DC/against Trump — across Trump properties,” Orowitz also wrote. The Wharton grad admitted to real estate publication Bisnow in August that the Trump name has brought more scrutiny to the project. “Trump has been involved in various iconic projects over the years,” said Orowitz. “That being said, this project has been uniquely public due to the nature and location of the building, in addition to the brand behind it.”
So far, reviews of the hotel have been mixed. The building was graffitied after its September 12th soft opening, and room rates, which started at a reported $700-plus a night on opening day, have now dropped to $404 per night. Its managing director, Mickael Damelincourt, insisted in a statement that the business has been successful. Orowitz, on his part, says he’s simply moving on. “I had the good fortune to work on complex, substantive projects like the Old Post Office redevelopment while at the Trump Organization,” he said in a statement. “With that project’s successful completion, I felt that this was a logical time for me to seek a new career challenge.
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