Trump-branded building in Stamford, Connecticut wants to ditch the President’s name
Trump Parc Stamford via F.D. Rich Company
Stamford might be joining the ranks of Soho, the Upper West Side, Toronto, Queens and Panama. Some residents of the Trump Parc condominium in Connecticut want to remove President Donald Trump’s name from their building and with new officers on its board, a vote for a name-change might be around the corner. According to the Stamford Advocate: “Some owners, in recent interviews, said a vote on the Trump name is now more likely as property values continue to decline and some owners and realtors say the name drags down prices.”
Residents of the Stamford Parc seem to be split. Vincent Crosbie, a six-year resident of the building, estimated one-third want to remove the name, one-third want to keep it and the others don’t care. Another resident equated, “talk of the name was taboo in the 34-story tower, like ‘religion and politics.’”
The Trump Organization, which does not own the building but licenses its name and manages it, told the Stamford Advocate: “We are working on an unbelievable hallway renovation for the building that we are very excited about. When completed it will make this beautiful property even more spectacular.”
Advocates have been pushing for the Stamford building to remove the president’s name since December 2015, when Trump during his campaign called for a temporary ban on Muslim immigrants. A coalition of Muslim activists urged the building owner, F.D. Rich Company, to remove the name. “It is highly offensive to Fairfield County’s diverse multi-ethnic community to have a well-known building carry the name of someone who has made a wide variety of xenophobic statements,” the group wrote to the company.
But, because the building is managed by the Trump Organization, the name of the tower has remained unchanged.
Buildings that have successfully removed the Trump brand name include 140, 160, and 180 Riverside Boulevard, the Dominick Hotel and Spa, the Trump Soho condominium and hotel (which removed the Trump name under the dark of night), and the Adelaide Hotel Toronto.
At the official name removal ceremony in Panama, majority owner Orestes Fintiklis played the piano and sang “Accordeon,” a popular Greek song about the fight against fascism.
With the lack of gumption in the Stamford struggle, it doesn’t seem there will be people singing passionate anti-fascist songs. But, perhaps you might hear a little squeal of joy from the residents who don’t have to answer questions from reporters when asked about their feelings about the building’s new name.
[Via Stamford Advocate]
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