I've knocked the man enough that it's pretty clear I'm not a fan of his methods, but I have to say, the guy is a fighter - he has a vision, and he goes after it pretty hard until, through some unlikely miracle, the job gets completed.
It may not be the original vision when all is said and done, but it's something, which is more than can be said for the majority of people out there. The guy obviously dreams big and has the balls to get out there and make something happen, no matter what it takes.
It's kind of scary to look at sometimes - and I don't have any money in any of his projects. It's like one of those cinderella-type underdog teams in the NHL playoffs with a hot goalie and a lot of luck. Eventually you figure the dream is going to come crashing down, but then again, sometimes sevem games later, they're hoisting the Cup overhead.
Is that methodology sustainable over a series of large-scale projects? I doubt it, but hey I've been wrong before and I'll be wrong again.
I think Harry is an outside of the box thinker, and he sees value where more traditional-types don't. Given his lack of prior experience, I suspect that he doesn't have the kind of financing to stick his neck out as far as a Trump who might be able to buy a corner at Adelaide and Bay and sit on it for years.
5 King was a little sliver of land that no one saw any value in, but Harry did. To his credit, he built a hell of a tall tower on it when many people said it couldn't be done. Depending on who you ask, 1 King is somewhat less than great in the details and exterior finishes, but it's there.
