Jona Rechnitz's Uncut Gems & Skyscraper Structural Corruption

This week, we dive into the tangled web of Jona Rechnitz, a New York real estate developer who was caught up in a massive NYPD corruption scandal before heading to LA and reinventing himself as a diamond dealer and Floyd Mayweather whisperer.  Rechnitz is the archetype of a netherworld character who somehow keeps popping up in real estate: the hustler with the incredible Rolodex and fuzzy origin story, someone who manages to whip up controversy whereever he goes but keeps escaping any real consequences. We also take a close look at a lawsuit that has cast a pall over Billionaires' Row, alleging that the developers of 432 Park Avenue ignored warnings of serious structural issues – and what this action says about this new and still relatively untested asset class. A big thank you to our sponsor for this episode, AirGarage – find out more about their full-service parking management solution at Airgarage.com/Promote

Further reading: 

Jona Rechnitz Atavist profile: https://magazine.atavist.com/all-that-glitters-jona-rechnitz-lawsuit-jadelle-jewelry-coba-ethereummax-mayweather/ and The Promote's CRE-focused summary: https://www.thepromote.com/p/rechnitz-s-righteous-gemstones-rfr-s-one-click-salvation#rechnitzs-righteous-gemstones

Harry Macklowe profile: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/nyregion/harry-macklowe-gambles-again.html?ref=nyregion&utm_source=www.thepromote.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=supertall-retribution-ackman-s-baby-berkshire-playbook

432 Park lawsuit: https://www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/432-park-owners-sue-harry-macklowe-and-cim-group-165-million-alleged-fraud-over-facade?utm_source=www.thepromote.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=supertall-retribution-ackman-s-baby-berkshire-playbook

Downside to life in a supertall: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/03/realestate/luxury-high-rise-432-park.html?utm_source=www.thepromote.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=supertall-retribution-ackman-s-baby-berkshire-playbook