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American Morning

Trump May Build World's Tallest Building in Chicago

Aired July 19, 2001 - 10:29   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Trump appears to be setting his sights now on the Windy City. "USA Today" reports that the New York financier is leading an effort to build what would become the world's tallest building. Now, this would allow Chicago to reclaim those bragging rights, after being edged out by Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Now, Debbie Howlett wrote this story in "USA Today." She joins us now from Chicago to talk about this for a bit.

Debbie, what's behind this? Is this the city asking for this, or is this something that Mr. Trump is just visiting upon the city?

DEBBIE HOWLETT, "USA TODAY": Well, Leon, I think there is a big buzz building in Chicago about this. I think the mayor is excited about this. And that -- the idea that they could reclaim the idea of world -- home to the world's tallest building has them pretty excited here.

HARRIS: Is there space for something like this in Chicago downtown?

HOWLETT: Well Trump, as one columnist here said, likes his buildings like he likes his women: tall and skinny. And if he built it tall and thin enough, I thin he can fit 1,500 feet of high-rise in that little space.

HARRIS: Is there a need for that kind of office space? I'm assuming it's going to be, basically, office space, correct, or is it not?

HOWLETT: It's going to be office space, some upscale retail, possibly a hotel and some luxury condominiums. And there are several buildings going up in Chicago -- none this big. And I think that the market can handle this. It's not a boom market anymore, but I think there's enough room in the market for this.

HARRIS: All right, well Debbie hold that thought for just a moment because we are joined right now on the phone by the man himself, Donald Trump.

Now, did you just hear that comment? Is this true, you're going to build this building like you like your women?

DONALD TRUMP, FINANCIER: Well, first of all, congratulations to Debbie, she seems to have scooped the world. I don't know, she must be quite a talent.

But we haven't even decided on the world's tallest building. It's an amazing sire. It's owned by the "Sun-Times" and, you know, I've had a great relationship with the owners of the "Sun-Times" for a long time -- Conrad Black and David Radler. And it's been really, sort of a love-fest between all of us and this site. The site in Chicago is probably the best site there is, as Debbie can attest to.

HARRIS: Can you describe for us exactly where this site is, and give us an idea of where, in relation to the Sears Tower it is?

TRUMP: Well it's -- I guess if you talk in terms of normal blocks, maybe eight blocks away from the Sears Tower. Obviously, they're all very visible, because at that height this would be -- you know, if you believe what Debbie is writing, this would be taller than the Sears Tower.

But we haven't really made that determination yet, Debbie. We will make it in the not-too-distant future.

HARRIS: Well, why are you making a place like this -- a point where you can hang your hat on something in Chicago, outside of your normal realm in New...

TRUMP: Well, you know, Chicago's a great city. It's led by one of the truly great and talented mayors. Mayor Daley has been amazing -- what he's done for Chicago. And it's a city where -- it just happens to be -- it happens to be a unique piece of property, and it happens to be in a unique city. So those two factors, coupled with my great partnership of people that I really like added up to, let's do this job.

HARRIS: All right. How long is -- would it take you to do this, and how much would it cost?

TRUMP: Well, we'll be announcing what we're building probably within the next three months. And that'll be an announcement that will be very exciting if it's, in fact, the world's tallest. And it will be very exciting if it's not the world's tallest. But we'll be announcing what we're going to be doing in probably three month.

HARRIS: OK. You didn't answer the question, though, about whether you're going to build this like your women...

TRUMP: I heard Debbie's statement; Boy.

(CROSSTALK)

HARRIS: Is that going to be...

TRUMP: I'll tell you what, I heard the -- no, I don't like them so skinny, Debbie. I'll tell you...

(LAUGHTER)

TRUMP: I have a lot of fun. HARRIS: Well, where did the idea come from? Is this a new idea that just hit you out of the blue, or what?

TRUMP: Well, in New York City, you know, you have very, very strong zoning requirements. And I just completed the tallest residential tower in the world, as Debbie knows, and it's been a tremendous success -- right opposite the United Nations. It's 90 stories. Now, as a residential tower, that's the tallest building there is. It's actually almost to the height of the Empire State Building observation deck. And that building has just been completed, and people are moving in now, and it's been tremendous.

And you know, height really creates dollars. It costs much more to build, but you also get more for it because of the views and the importance of the building, et cetera, et cetera.

So we'll make a determination over the next couple of months as to what we're going to do with the site. The site is amazing.

HARRIS: And you think something like this makes economic sense in a time where most folks are looking at downsizing things -- the economy slowing down and all?

TRUMP: Right, I heard the comments before. The one thing is, you know, we're not really counting on this market or the last market; we'll be into the next market, whatever that may be. Who knows?

But the truth is, you know, we're not looking at this market. We've got zoning to go through and planning to go through. And, you know, oftentimes you like to plan in the worst of times so that when the best of times come you have everything done. And that's really the position we're in.

HARRIS: Well, let me ask Debbie something real quick about that.

Debbie, you see the road being paved very easily and quickly here on the zoning and all that?

HOWLETT: Surely. Well, I think that there are some hurdles to overcome, but I think the mayor is quite enthused about this. And I don't think there will be huge problems in the city council with zoning issues. there is certainly no cap on building heights in Chicago, as there is in New York.

HARRIS: And do the people of Chicago really, really -- that badly -- want to be home, again, to the world's tallest building?

HOWLETT: Well, you know, here in the Second City, any time you can lay claim to the world's tallest, the world's largest, the world's biggest, they love it here.

HARRIS: All right. Well, you're going to love Donald Trump if this -- if he does pull this off...

HOWLETT: He'd be a popular guy.

HARRIS: As if he isn't already.

Listen, Donald Trump, we thank you very much for your time this morning, sir.

TRUMP: Well, thank you both very much.

HARRIS: We definitely -- and we will be watching to see, now, if you pull this one off. We're also going to see how skinny this turns out to be.

TRUMP: Bye.

HARRIS: Debbie Howlett, thanks very much for your time as well. We will keep our eye on this story and see how this whole thing stacks up.

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