Post by Owen from Final Fantasy on Mar 5, 2007 16:30:21 GMT -5
Hello, this is Owen again.
I was interviewed last summer for the HGTV show "Big City Broker". The show follows Toronto real estate broker Brad J Lamb around Toronto. The show offers a look at the process of condo retail, from the purchase of property, through construction and the closing of a sale.
Apparently, while they were taping the show, Brad and his team found out about the song "This Lamb Sells Condos", and the cameraman got his reaction on tape. JS Productions, who were making the show, decided to track me down so I could go on record about the song and my views on the recent concentration of condominiums in the King West area.
I've stated publicly that the song is not meant to be an indictment of Mr. Lamb but one of myself and other condo dwellers. The actual quality of life offered by condo living is far lower than the lifestyle that brokers and developers are selling. (Success Tower at Pinnacle Place, anyone?) "This Lamb Sells Condos" is, furthermore, a satire, and not meant to be taken literally.
The producers of the show and I chatted for an hour or two, and took some ambient footage of me, practising some studies, and walking around in front of Susur. I've been watching the show for the last month, hoping to catch a glimpse of myself and ensure that I didn't look like an asshole.
While watching, I've begun to feel compassion for Mr. Lamb and his team. His goals and process seem to be genuine. He isn't trying to make as much money as possible... he truly believes that his work is for the betterment of Toronto. He does take the time to offer his (mostly) sympathetic rebuttals to the criticisms that are levelled at him.
Nevertheless, when it comes to "what makes a city great", his beliefs are hugely different from mine. Like, black and white. I consider him to be a cynic when it comes to things such as civic pride and the role of special interest groups and City Council. I also think that a good neighbourhood relies upon mixed property values and varied types of zoning. He would likely see my views as naive and idealistic.
For example, at one point, he asked the camera a rhetorical question: "What is the primary concern of politicians?" I answered immediately--and aloud--"The constituents." Then he replied, "Getting re-elected."
(I think I'd probably be a terrible real-estate broker.)
The show I'm in, should you care to watch, will be shown on March 14th. My hair looks really weird! But thankfully, I don't say anything too moronic.
They edited out the best parts, namely, when I talked about Jane Jacobs' idea of "good" gentrification vs. "bad" gentrification. And Brad gets to rebut everything I say. It is his show after all. But they play the "This Lamb Sells Condos" song against a montage of the current construction at (what I think is) West Harbour City on Fleet St. Wow!
Thanks, that's all.
I was interviewed last summer for the HGTV show "Big City Broker". The show follows Toronto real estate broker Brad J Lamb around Toronto. The show offers a look at the process of condo retail, from the purchase of property, through construction and the closing of a sale.
Apparently, while they were taping the show, Brad and his team found out about the song "This Lamb Sells Condos", and the cameraman got his reaction on tape. JS Productions, who were making the show, decided to track me down so I could go on record about the song and my views on the recent concentration of condominiums in the King West area.
I've stated publicly that the song is not meant to be an indictment of Mr. Lamb but one of myself and other condo dwellers. The actual quality of life offered by condo living is far lower than the lifestyle that brokers and developers are selling. (Success Tower at Pinnacle Place, anyone?) "This Lamb Sells Condos" is, furthermore, a satire, and not meant to be taken literally.
The producers of the show and I chatted for an hour or two, and took some ambient footage of me, practising some studies, and walking around in front of Susur. I've been watching the show for the last month, hoping to catch a glimpse of myself and ensure that I didn't look like an asshole.
While watching, I've begun to feel compassion for Mr. Lamb and his team. His goals and process seem to be genuine. He isn't trying to make as much money as possible... he truly believes that his work is for the betterment of Toronto. He does take the time to offer his (mostly) sympathetic rebuttals to the criticisms that are levelled at him.
Nevertheless, when it comes to "what makes a city great", his beliefs are hugely different from mine. Like, black and white. I consider him to be a cynic when it comes to things such as civic pride and the role of special interest groups and City Council. I also think that a good neighbourhood relies upon mixed property values and varied types of zoning. He would likely see my views as naive and idealistic.
For example, at one point, he asked the camera a rhetorical question: "What is the primary concern of politicians?" I answered immediately--and aloud--"The constituents." Then he replied, "Getting re-elected."
(I think I'd probably be a terrible real-estate broker.)
The show I'm in, should you care to watch, will be shown on March 14th. My hair looks really weird! But thankfully, I don't say anything too moronic.
They edited out the best parts, namely, when I talked about Jane Jacobs' idea of "good" gentrification vs. "bad" gentrification. And Brad gets to rebut everything I say. It is his show after all. But they play the "This Lamb Sells Condos" song against a montage of the current construction at (what I think is) West Harbour City on Fleet St. Wow!
Thanks, that's all.
Inevitable.
