Faith Hope Consolo: Chairwoman for retail real estate at Prudential Douglas Elliman
I’m working on a new portfolio now that was just handed to me: 15 buildings and 75 stores, all over Harlem. These are existing buildings in renovation, and we’re putting in better shops and services.
What people don’t know about Harlem is that certain areas have great demographics, great untapped spending. They want better restaurants, better food markets, just better everything. They say: “Faith, bring us a better tailor, bring us a better food market. Just bring us the same as they have in Midtown.”
It’s going to be a resurgence of mom-and-pop stores, but a better version. I’m going to go into every residential neighborhood, and I’m going to canvass great-looking retailers who are the butcher, the baker, the great dry cleaner, the great card store. And some very good restaurants. I’m already talking to Danny Meyer about going there with a cafe. And I’m working on several different high-profile national and international designers. One of my retailers makes fragrances named after neighborhoods, like Chelsea and Wall Street and whatever. She wants to be there, so I told her to create a fragrance that’s called “Harlem.” And she did.
I can’t tell you who the landlord is. They told me they’re afraid of the Harlem Chamber of Commerce. You know, Old Harlem hates New Harlem. But I understand. I go to the community meetings, I went to the chamber, and I listen to them.
Old Harlem, they think that New Harlem just brings money and no culture. They consider themselves very immersed in culture. They do have a lot of beautiful buildings, they have a lot of history. Not more history than other parts of the city, but you have to treat them that way.
Read the rest of the article: NYTimes.com
zarahleander
October 17, 2008
“Faith Hope Consolo” was the management agent for a slumlord years ago in New York. She lied to me saying I would get back my security deposit if I moved. After being told it was “in the mail” she said “I said we’ll see if you get it back” A lie. After she rationalized “You would have moved anyway”. Her bio is as fake as the retouched photo she uses of herself. She is not what Harlem needs. Money is her God. Her only business in Harlem is to see what she can do to get a buck for herself at the expense of everyone else.
Doug S
June 10, 2008
“Just bring us the same as they have in Midtown.” “and whatever.”
The quality of restaurants in Midtown is nothing to aspire to.
Anonymous
June 10, 2008
123uptownside – And who are you to tell us what is good? If you’re in business, you don’t get displaced….you go,”OUT OF BUSINESS”….I mean we’ve all seen those signs all over the city throughout our life times. All of those businesses saw this coming well in advance and did littel/nothing to prepare for it, or so they make it seem…..I mean they should have at least revised their business plans as a way of adapting to the massive changes that everyone knew were coming….by the way everyone cries bloody murder even if their particular situation is note as dire as it may appear….that’s the way the game is played. Finally, I’d like to reserve the word,”displaced” for residential properties…if you please.
123uptownside
May 10, 2008
oh I get it displace the original store owners. Who makes the decision on what is better.
There was or is nothing better than KNOX hats oops they got rid of that.
And who are you guys to say “Harlem” welcomes you… Speak for yourself. I’ve lived here for 15 years and I knew where to get everything from good food, good music and good services. No more.
But lucky me I have you guys to let me know what good is.
aj
May 7, 2008
um…”vote” for the chamber of commerce?
i hate to burst your bubbles, folks, but a seat on the chamber of commerce is not an elected office. nor are they appointed by elected officials.
it’s a private group, a business network, nothing more. i’m not saying the chamber has no political power, but i WILL say that they are in no way beholden to or accountable to the general public.
this nonsense about voting members out of the chamber is just that — nonsense. i hear a lot of these similar delusions of grandeur whenever the topic of discussion is economic development in harlem. “WE’RE gonna do this, and WE’RE gonna do that!”
um…no, you’re not.
at the risk of using a metaphor that may have been forever tainted by our recently-departed governor:
progress is a steamroller. there are only two ways of dealing with it: you’re either helping to drive the thing, or you’re part of the asphalt.
in other words: progress moves either THROUGH you or OVER you. there is no other option.
anon
May 5, 2008
not everyhing is a conspiracy, narmer. stop attempting to spread misinformation and lies through your innuendo.
alice
May 5, 2008
im not sure how that’s fishy, narmer? it’s no huge conspiracy…owners of building along 125th have been empying out their storefronts for months awaiting the rezoning to pass. now it has…they are ready to fill their storefronts, or sell their properties. whichever.
it’s not like some big top secret plan.
what did you expect to happen after the rezoning passed? homeless shelters to pop up on every corner?
narmer
May 5, 2008
“I’m working on a new portfolio now that was just handed to me: 15 buildings and 75 stores, all over Harlem. These are existing buildings in renovation, and we’re putting in better shops and services.”
What’s fishy here? The rezoning of Harlem gets approve and the next “day” this woman has a portfolio of 15 buildings and 15 stores all over Harlem – WOW!!!!!!!!!
b
May 5, 2008
Ms. Consolo, Harlem welcomes you and the businesses you represent…………Good Luck!
b
May 5, 2008
I’m sure that one could google the Harlem Chamber of Commerce and review their recent decisions regarding the 125th street rezoning and other business related issues. Then we can vote for those who encourage the future of Harlem as opposed to those who stand in the way.
West Harlem
May 5, 2008
How do we vote on the Harlem Chamber of Commerce? I for one have heard nothing but negative things about Lloyd Williamson – the head of this organization.
Chambers has relatively no power. It makes no sense to shun new business.
b
May 5, 2008
Don’t worry we’ll vote the memebers of the Harlem Chamber of Commerce out if they contiue with the nonsense!
West Harlem
May 5, 2008
I think this woman is going to make a lot of money. There are neighborhoods in Harlem screaming for services. It is a shame that the harlem Chamber of Commerce seems to be against development of any kind. Ridiculous since more taxes from small business can help improve the neighborhood.
Anonymous
May 4, 2008
Hi,
The fragrance place that she is speaking of is called Bond No. 9 and just so people know, I had to write a very disturbing letter of complaint to the head of that company because I went into the store on Bond Street and I was treated so badly by the sales associate. Let’s just say that it was a very bad experience and I would truly hope that that situation does not happen to any other African American that steps into that store or the one that she wants to come to Harlem…