Marina City residential property manager’s employment terminated

6-Mar-13 – The manager of Marina City’s residential property has apparently resigned. David Gantt, an employee of Draper & Kramer, had been property manager since October 2003. Members of Marina City’s condo board were notified of the decision on Monday.

Gantt was in the middle of renovation projects at Marina City that were controversial due to designs that were unpopular with residents and alleged cost overruns. One such project, to renovate the laundry rooms on the 20th floors of both towers, was estimated at $495,000 but actually cost $820,850. An attorney for Marina Towers Condominium Association has disputed that the project was over budget, saying the additional money was spent to upgrade 47-year-old heating and air conditioning equipment.

A project to turn the 53rd floor of the east tower into a “model floor” was also said to have gone significantly over budget.

Reaction on Marina Watchdog, a blog for Marina City residents, was mostly supportive of the decision.

“A putz like Gantt should have been fired years ago,” wrote one resident. “I think a full, independent audit should be called and paid for by [Draper & Kramer] and any unauthorized use of funds should be reimbursed by them.”

Wrote another, “Gantt fancied himself as a party planner, a decorator, security specialist, a voting place planner, and a general contractor, to name a few. He was none of the above. He’s now an ex-property manager.”

But another resident said Gantt would be missed. “He worked hard to keep Marina City running well. He has done a lot for us. I wish him well. Let’s hope our next manager will be as good as Dave Gantt.”

Tom Taylor, vice president of condominium association management for Draper & Kramer, did not respond to a request for information on who would replace Gantt at Marina City.

Gantt had an ongoing concern with public safety in the neighborhood. In 2011, he wrote to 42nd Ward Alderman Brendan Reilly, suggesting the city bring back full-time “bridge tenders” as a way to fight a growing problem with panhandlers and other nuisances. From their heated and air conditioned bridge houses on the Chicago River, the tenders he recommended would use “loud speakers to fend off offenders.”

Before working at Marina City, Gantt was the residential portfolio manager for The John Buck Company. Before that, he was a property manager for Sudler & Company.