A former Vancouver city planner is calling for the Trump Tower to be renamed over its namesake’s increasingly shocking anti-Muslim remarks.
Brent Toderian, now a prominent planning consultant, said he’s been critical of Donald Trump’s association with the $360 million tower ever since it was announced two years ago.
“There’s a lot of Vancouver in that building,” Toderian said. “That’s why I was so disappointed when I heard originally that Trump’s name had been… scotch-taped onto the building at the last minute.”
That disappointment turned to outrage on Monday, however, when the controversial presidential candidate endorsed an outright ban on all Muslims entering the U.S.
Toderian responded by calling on the Trump Tower developer, Holborn Group, to cut ties with Trump immediately.
“You can’t help but feel this incredible disparity between the commentary that’s being said by Mr. Trump and the value system of our city and our country,” he said.
Toderian said he almost feels sorry for Holborn Group, which might be in an unbreakable contract with the divisive presidential hopeful.
“I would have to imagine the developer probably cringes every time Mr. Trump opens his mouth these days,” he added.
A spokeswoman for Holborn Group said the developer was travelling and unavailable to comment early Tuesday afternoon.
The tower was designed by architect Arthur Erickson, and was initially going to be a Ritz-Carlton hotel until the 2008 financial collapse put the project on hold.
Trump came to Vancouver in 2013 to announce he was lending his brand to the tower instead.
The 63-storey tower, which will be the second-highest in the city next to the Shangri-La Hotel, is scheduled for completion in fall 2016.
As #Trump calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S, I seriously suggest that Vancouverites call on @TrumpVancouver to remove his name.
— Brent Toderian (@BrentToderian) December 8, 2015