{{Short description|British businessman}} {{pp|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Harry Handelsman | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1949|09}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | resting_place = | education = | alma_mater = York University | occupation = Property Developer | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | known_for = Founder and CEO, Manhattan Loft Corporation | boards = | spouse = | partner = Elizabeth Crompton-Batt | children = 2 | parents = | relatives = | website = }}
'''Harry Handelsman''' (born September 1949) is the founder and CEO of Manhattan Loft Corporation, a London-based property development company.
==Early life==
Harry Handelsman was born in September 1949,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/pThjRUkcfaggh2Sq6WJEQOrxJrc/appointments|title=Harry HANDELSMAN - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|accessdate=18 September 2017}}</ref> the son of a "well-off Polish financier",<ref name="building1">{{cite web|last=Withers |first=Iain |url=http://www.building.co.uk/harry-handelsman-the-pearly-king/5055207.article |title=Harry Handelsman: The Pearly King | Magazine Features |publisher=Building |date=23 May 2013 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref> Handelsman was born in Munich. He was educated in Germany, Paris and Canada,<ref name="building1"/><ref name="telegraph1">{{cite web|author=Elfreda Pownall |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/interiors/home/at-home-with-harry-handelsman-the-man-behind-chiltern-firehouse/ |title=At home with Harry Handelsman, the man behind Chiltern Firehouse |work=The Daily Telegraph|date=15 October 2016 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref> and has a master's degree in economics from York University in Toronto.<ref name="standard1">{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/station-master-harry-handelsman-6759440.html |title=Station master: Harry Handelsman | London Evening Standard |work=Evening Standard|date=4 September 2009 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref>
His father died in 1982,<ref name="building1"/> and he then took over running the business,<ref name="standard1"/> and moved to London in 1983.<ref name="homesandproperty1">{{cite web|author=Philippa Stockley |url=https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/property-news/buying/new-tower-for-stratford-42storey-manhattan-loft-gardens-set-to-bring-248-homes-skyhigh-gardens-and-a-a102911.html |title=New tower for Stratford: 42-storey Manhattan Loft Gardens set to bring 248 homes, sky-high gardens and a luxury hotel by 2018 |publisher=Homes and Property |date=20 July 2016 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref>
==Career==
Handelsman established London-based Manhattan Loft Corporation in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|author=Bethan Ryder |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/property-and-architecture/manhattan-loft-corporation-founder-harry-handelsman-on-why-east/ |title=Manhattan Loft Corporation founder Harry Handelsman on why east London is the future |work=The Daily Telegraph|date=27 November 2014 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref> Since then, he has gone on to re-develop "some of London’s most admired buildings",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominiqueafacan/2016/04/28/harry-handelsman-on-manhattan-loft-gardens/#1c81f4224e41 |title=Harry Handelsman on Manhattan Loft Gardens |work=Forbes.com |date=28 April 2016 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref> including the Chiltern Firehouse and St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel
==Manhattan Loft Corporation developments==
===Chiltern Firehouse=== {{Main|Chiltern Firehouse}} A collaboration with Andre Balazs, Manhattan Loft Corporation redeveloped the Grade II 19th-century Manchester Square Fire Station into a 26-suite hotel and 200 capacity restaurant. Chiltern Firehouse opened in 2014 after nearly five years of re-development<ref>{{cite news|author=Luke Blackall |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/man-about-town-chiltern-firehouse-and-lesser-seen-restaurant-that-actually-lives-up-to-the-hype-9686202.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220509/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/man-about-town-chiltern-firehouse-and-lesser-seen-restaurant-that-actually-lives-up-to-the-hype-9686202.html |archive-date=9 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Man About Town: Chiltern Firehouse and lesser-seen restaurant that actually lives up to the hype |work=The Independent|date=22 August 2014 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coverdalebarclay.com/news/andre-balazs-first-uk-hotel-the-chiltern-firehouse-now-open |title=André Balazs first UK hotel, the Chiltern Firehouse now open |publisher=Coverdale Barclay |date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.luxurylondon.co.uk/article/the-property-interview-harry-handelsman |title=The Property Interview: Harry Handelsman |publisher=Luxurylondon.co.uk |date=27 July 2016 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="telegraph1"/>
Chiltern Firehouse was designed in conjunction with Studio KO, and, in addition to its 26 suites, includes bar areas and a restaurant run by former Viajante chef Nuno Mendes – whose cuisine has been described as "unique" and "stylish".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greatbritishchefs.com/chefs/nuno-mendes |title=Nuno Mendes Chef at Chiltern Firehouse |publisher=Great British Chefs |date=12 February 2012 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref>
===Hackney Walk=== Launched in Spring 2016, Manhattan Loft Corporation collaborated with architect David Adjaye to create a designer fashion outlet district in London's Hackney.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rhiannon Bury |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/03/07/retailers-sign-up-for-hackney-fashion-hub/ |title=Retailers sign up for Hackney fashion hub |work=The Daily Telegraph|date=8 March 2016 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref> However the project was largely unsuccessful<ref>{{Cite news |last=Usborne |first=Simon |date=2023-11-11 |title=‘It was a case study for what not to do’: the regeneration project that became a £100m luxury ghost town |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/nov/11/hackney-walk-east-london-regeneration-ghost-town |access-date=2024-09-15 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB}}</ref> with only a single store remaining open in 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-01 |title=Hackney: Luxury shopping outlet sees all but one store shut |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-64798538 |access-date=2025-03-06 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
===St Pancras Renaissance Hotel=== {{Main|St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel}} Designed by George Gilbert Scott in the 19th century, the former Grand Midland Hotel became derelict in the late 20th-century. Planning permission to re-develop the derelict building was granted to Manhattan Loft Corporation in 2004. The upper levels of the gothic structure were developed into 67 apartments, and a 245-room hotel was opened in 2011 after the ten-year restoration work.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rowan Moore |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/feb/13/midland-grand-hotel-st-pancras |title=St Pancras Renaissance Hotel: The rebirth of a gothic masterpiece | Art and design |work=The Guardian|date=13 February 2011 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/st-pancras-makeover-takes-balls-of-steel-and-150m-6563542.html |title=St Pancras makeover takes balls of steel - and £150m | London Evening Standard |work=Evening Standard|date=4 February 2011 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hobson |first=Rebecca |url=http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/property/commercial-property/harry-handelsman-the-man-who-gave-st-pancras-back-to-london/1912.article |title=Harry Handelsman: The man who gave St Pancras back to London | Interviews |publisher=LondonlovesBusiness.com |date=14 March 2012 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref> The St Pancras Renaissance Hotel remains under Handelsman's ownership<ref name="standard1"/>
===Ealing Studios=== {{Main|Ealing Studios}}
Ealing Studios, built in 1902, is Britain's oldest film studio. In the mid-2000s, Handelsman purchased the site along with Fragile Films' Uri Fruchtmann and Barnaby Thompson; all of whom are directors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.endole.co.uk/company/03062708/ealing-studios-management-limited|title=Ealing Studios Management Limited - Company Information - Endole Suite|website=www.endole.co.uk|accessdate=18 September 2017}}</ref> Manhattan Loft Corporation went on to re-develop the site to include the existing Grade II listed sound stages. Manhattan Loft Corporation remains linked to Ealing Studios as the company is working on the second phase of its restoration and expansion.<ref name="building1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bdonline.co.uk/26-manhattan-loft-corporation/3075879.article |title=26 - Manhattan Loft Corporation | Archive Titles | Building Design |publisher=Bdonline.co.uk |date=31 October 2006 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref>
===Manhattan Loft Gardens===
Manhattan Loft Gardens is a 42-storey skyscraper in Stratford, East London. It has been designed by architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The double-cantilevered, 135 m tower includes 248 flats, a hotel, a restaurant, and three sky gardens. It was completed in 2019.<ref name="homesandproperty1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cityam.com/1412338140/developer-behind-chiltern-firehouse-have-lofty-ideas-stratfords-olympic-park |title=Manhattan Loft Gardens: Developer behind the Chiltern Firehouse has lofty ideas for Stratford's Olympic Park | City A.M |publisher=City A.M. |date=3 October 2014 |accessdate=5 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buildington.co.uk/london-e20/olympic-park/manhattan-loft-gardens/id/3496 |title=Manhattan Loft Gardens - Olympic Park E20 1FB |publisher=Buildington |accessdate=5 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Manhattan Loft Gardens |url=https://www.som.com/projects/manhattan-loft-gardens/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=SOM |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Awards and recognition==
In 2012, it was announced that Handelsman had received an honorary fellowship from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.architecture.com/RIBA/Awards/RIBAHonoraryFellowships/HonoraryFellowships2013.aspx |title=Honorary Fellowships 2013 |publisher=Architecture.com |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref> Handelsman was listed in the Evening Standard's "Progress 1000" in both 2015 and 2016; a list of London's 1000 most influential people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/the1000/the-progress-1000-londons-most-influential-people-2015-property-a2943576.html |title=The Progress 1000: London's most influential people 2015 - Property | London Evening Standard |work=Evening Standard|date=16 September 2015 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/the1000/the-progress-1000-londons-most-influential-people-2016-constructors-a3335491.html |title=The Progress 1000: London's most influential people 2016 - Constructors | London Evening Standard |work=Evening Standard|date=7 September 2016 |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref>
==Other== Handelsman sits on the board of Artangel,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.artangel.org.uk/about_us/board/ |title=Board |publisher=Artangel.org.uk |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref> the Southbank Centre and The South London Gallery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://southlondongallery.org/page/staff-trustees |title=Staff & Trustees |publisher=South London Gallery |accessdate=18 April 2017}}</ref>
==Personal life== His "long-term partner" is Elizabeth Crompton-Batt, the former wife of the late restaurant PR Alan Crompton-Batt, and they have a daughter together.<ref name="standard1"/> They live in Bayswater, London,<ref name="standard1"/> with Handelsman's flat tailored by Sarah Featherstone.<ref name="telegraph1"/><ref name="standard1"/> Handelsman also has a daughter from a previous marriage.<ref name="standard1"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Handelsman, Harry}} Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:British businesspeople