William Zeckendorf was born to a Jewish family in Paris, Illinois, the son of a hardware store manager.
11 Facts About William Zeckendorf
2.
William Zeckendorf's family moved to New York City when he was three years old.
3.
William Zeckendorf attended New York University but dropped out to work at the real estate company of his uncle, Sam Borchard.
4.
William Zeckendorf's most notable property acquisition, and potential development of a "dream city" to rival Rockefeller Center, was a 17-acre site along the East River between 42nd Street and 48th Street.
5.
William Zeckendorf owned New York's famous Chrysler Building and the venerable Hotel Astor in Times Square.
6.
William Zeckendorf purchased Chicago's famous Robie House in 1958, before transferring ownership to the University of Chicago.
7.
William Zeckendorf partnered with Chicago real estate titan Arthur Rubloff to develop a stretch of Michigan Avenue into what Rubloff dubbed the Magnificent Mile.
8.
However, construction did not start as promised, and rumors, later confirmed, circulated that developer William Zeckendorf would take over the project by purchasing 20th's interest in the project for.
9.
William Zeckendorf hired New York public relations executive Tex McCrary to lend new life and visibility to the project.
10.
Still lacking sufficient money, William Zeckendorf was forced to make per day penalty payments to Fox.
11.
On September 30,1976, William Zeckendorf died in his residence on 65th Street and Park Avenue after suffering a stroke.