Beachfront Brilliance
Jorge Perez and Donald Trump Jr. at Trump Hollywood
Photos by Manny Hernandez
During a powerhouse lunch affair that featured developer Jorge Perez, President and CEO of the Related Group, and rising star and real estate heir Donald Trump Jr., Trump Hollywood, the latest and most important branded venture from The Related Group and The Trump Organization, was officially introduced to South Florida’s beachfront landscape.
SocialMiami had an all access pass to the 41-story, 200 unit ultra-luxury condo development and sat down with Perez and Trump Jr. to learn about this latest project as well as their love for Miami, art, philanthropy and even a little football.
“The deal to build Trump Hollywood between Jorge and my father evolved very quickly,” said Trump Jr. “They basically put it together on the back of a napkin. That doesn’t happen often and is an indication of the great relationship that Jorge and my father have. It’s a relationship based on quality, which is the most important thing and something I look to bring to the Trump brand as a second generation developer.”
Trump’s sentiments were echoed by Perez who emphasized the close personal friendship between himself and Trump Sr.
“He’s one of my best friends,” Perez said. “This is our fifth project and we put the deal together very rapidly. Donald Sr. and I speak several times a month and Trump Hollywood is the culmination of all our ventures. Hopefully we’ll do more once the economy picks back up.”
A signature of all Related Group projects is the exquisite use of art. Perez is known internationally as a collector with exceptional taste and his fined-tuned sense of aesthetic is seen once again with Trump Hollywood.
Selected by Perez with renowned interior design firm Yabu Pushelberg and Canadian-based James Robertson Art Consultants, the collection in the lobby and common areas is valued at nearly $1 million. The centerpiece is an 18 foot stainless steel sculpture by Japanese artist Sawada Hirotoshi. An abstract metal Damon Hyldreth sculpture rests on an infinity-edge reflecting water feature and a photo-mural of a swimming woman in the spa and fitness center was created by Barbara Cole.
“You’ll see art in every room,” said Perez. “The choices are very modern, yet understated.”
As with his developments, Perez’s philanthropic initiatives are centered on art. “I am the chairman of the Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Council,” he said. “We put a lot of effort into supporting arts for children from households that can’t afford it. We’re working to build the new Miami Art Museum. I also contribute to the United Way. Overall, though, organizations focusing on arts education are the ones in which I have taken a lead.”
Trump Jr.’s philanthropic endeavors are centered on only two organizations – Operation Smile and the Eric Trump Foundation.
“My goal is to focus on one organization and own it, make it mine,” he explained. “I don’t want to contribute my name to a thousand things and have no idea what the organizations do or where the money goes. I’ve been to many charity events in New York where you ask one of the people on the invite list what the event is about and they can’t even tell you. I sit on the board of Operation Smile and started with them right out of college to develop their east coast presence. The organization sends teams of doctors to third world countries to help children with cleft palates and facial deformities. We’ve grown from raising around $200,000 on the east coast to raising nearly $4 million last year.”
According to Trump Jr., who recently had his second child, he’s a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy who loves to visit Miami. “Being of the younger generation, Miami is probably where I go most to relax. Kids keep me very busy, almost as busy as development. When we’re in Miami, we just go where it’s fun and where we can have a good time.”
With football season having finally arrived, good times are certainly ahead at LandShark Stadium and Perez, who is business partners with Miami Dolphins’ majority owner Steve Ross, was actively courting Trump Jr. to stay in town for an upcoming Dolphins game. “I tried to get him to stay,” said Perez, “but he has to go back.”
“It’s more a factor of kids,” Trump Jr. insisted.
“I’m a Giants fan, but I may need to change my allegiance now that I can get good seats at the Dolphins games.”
Well, if he wants to sell more condos in Miami, being a Fins fan certainly wouldn’t hurt – although he doesn’t necessarily have to change his allegiance from the Giants who are in the NFC. It’s not as though Trump Jr. is a Jets fan…then we may have some issues.
