| About The Knightsbridge Company
> Company Profile
> Biographies:
John McDonald, President |
John W. McDonald founded The Knightsbridge Company in 1994. Mr. McDonald enjoys extensive experience in the renovation and redevelopment of commercial property. In the past 20 years, he has managed over $300 million of renovation projects.
As Regional Vice President for Equitec Properties Company (purchased by Hallwood Realty in 1991), he managed a 4 million square foot portfolio of commercial property in Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Milwaukee, Omaha and Indianapolis. During his tenure with Equitec (1985-1990), Mr. McDonald successfully renovated and repositioned office, retail property and developed industrial space. He was involved in nearly 8 million square feet of properties, was responsible for over 2 million square feet of lease transactions, several acquisitions and sales of property.
As Executive Vice President with Baldwin Development, Mr. McDonald oversaw the $100 million redevelopment of the national landmark Rookery Building and initiated the renovation of the national landmark Reliance Building. Mr. McDonald also worked to renovate the national landmark Marquette Building with Continental Offices and the building's owner, the McArthur Foundation.
Mr. McDonald founded The Knightsbridge Company in 1994; which was hired by Mark IV Realty to provide development management services to assist in the renovation of Marina City in 1996 and the $90 million historic renovation of the Carbide & Carbon Building, converting the building into the Hard Rock Hotel. Mr. McDonald recently sold his partnership interest in the Hard Rock Hotel project.
Knightsbridge relocated to Tampa, Florida and purchased the 187,500 square foot Lakeview Center office building in 2003. The vacant property was purchased for $9.5 million. Knightsbridge secured a 141,000 square foot lease with Bank of America. The bank was in occupancy within 6 months of the purchase. Knightsbridge invested $6.5 million in improvements and leasing costs and sold the building at the end of 2006 for $21.4 million.
The Knightsbridge Company, in a partnership, acquired the 300,000 square foot Village Plaza Building in Dearborn, Michigan in 1997. The property, purchased for $7.2 million, has been successfully renovated increasing occupancy from 48% to 96%, annual net operating income from $400,000 to $2.4 million and appraised value to $24 million in less than 18 months. Approximately $5,000,000 was invested during the renovation.
Mr. McDonald initiated the formation, and is a founding board member, of the LaSalle Street Council. The LaSalle Street Council is a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the vitality of Chicago and the LaSalle Street district and its tenants. The Council formed the LaSalle Street Foundation to assist Chicago high school students in their college and career aspirations.
Mr. McDonald is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Urban Land Institute, and is a licensed real estate broker. He received a bachelor's degree in Economics from Northwestern University. Born in 1960, he resides in Tampa, Florida with his wife, Kathy, and their two children, Samantha and Liam.
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