But then, despite local opposition, came Trump Place, a complex expected to eventually include 17 waterfront towers along the Hudson.
"Trump Place has two big buildings, but who else will come there?"
His words provided foes of the development, known as Trump Place, with yet another piece of ammunition in their campaign against the project.
And he's got that half ownership in the gigantic Trump Place.
"Can we get the name changed from Trump Place to something else?"
In a perverse way, Trump Place is a landmark.
The freshly laid road to Trump Place now runs from 67th to 70th Streets, but where it will end up is anyone's guess.
Also, he began construction on Trump Place, a multi-building development along the Hudson River.
- Trump Place, one of the new towers has a stainless steel marquee.
Plans call for Trump Place to have 16 residential buildings and 17,000 residents eventually.