Donald Trump has joined the list of developers interested in owning 1 World Trade Center — but sources said the Donald isn’t quite sure he wants to win.
“Trump loves the concept [of owning what used to be known as the Freedom Tower], but doesn’t know where the tenants would come from — and it’s such a target,” one source explained to The Post. “He keeps saying, ‘There’s a big red target painted on it.'”
Trump, along with his sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, and his daughter Ivanka visited the downtown construction site with Port Authority Executive Director Christopher Ward last month to discuss a $100-million-plus bid, sources said. However, he has yet to officially submit an offer.
On Tuesday, The Post’s Steve Cuozzo reported that six bids had been submitted to the Port Authority, including ones from Brookfield Properties, Vornado Realty Trust, Related Cos., the Durst Organization, Boston Properties and Hines Interests.
In addition to finishing up the leasing and managing of the 1,776-foot tower, The Port Authority wants the winner to oversee construction.
Sources said that Trump’s history of getting along with unions and being able to finish buildings on time makes him particularly attractive to the Port Authority.
However, The Donald is said to be hesitant because of the tower’s mix of tenants, which he doesn’t think would mix well with the high-end corporate tenants needed for the tower to generate its highest returns. “Why rent there when you can rent on Park Avenue?” Trump has been quoted as saying.