Good Riddance To The Donald

This whole Donald Trump thing baffled me in the first place. The idea that Tampa should be grateful to have the Trump brand on a 52-story luxury condo tower seemed dated and tacky from the outset, when the $300-million project was announced in 2005. It felt like we were expected to get all excited over getting a new Playboy Club or something equally passe. What next, will we have to line up and wave palm fronds for Paris Hilton?

But, as they say, bull finds its own level, and the champagne wishes and caviar dreams of 2005 have given way to the realities of a busted condo market, poor sales, construction liens and lawsuits. As my colleague James Thorner reports today, Trump has terminated his contract with SimDag, the developers, and filed a lawsuit against them in federal court.

Being a dedicated Trump-avoider when possible, I didn't even realize that this wasn't his building in the first place -- Trump just puts his name on the thing in return for a piece of the action, kind of like a McDonald's franchise. He's doing it all over the country.

Maybe the developers can recover by signing up Rosie O'Donnell. [Times photo | Chris Zuppa]