Johnny Sandelson Explained

Johnny Sandelson
Birth Name:Jonathan Charles David Sandelson
Nationality:British
Occupation:property developer
Parents:Victor Lightman Sandelson
Bernice Sandelson
Relatives:Neville Sandelson (uncle)
Robert Sandelson (brother)

Jonathan Charles David Sandelson (born 1968) is a British property developer and an investor in The Strategic Iconic Assets Heritage Acquisition Fund (SIAHAF).[1]

Early life

Johnny Sandelson was born into a Jewish family, the son of Victor Lightman Sandelson (1928-2017) and Bernice Sandelson.[2] He has a brother Robert Sandelson, and two sisters, Antonia and Jo.[2] [3] His father was an art collector and arts journalist, and his mother was an artist.[2] His uncle (Victor's older brother) was the Labour Party MP Neville Sandelson (1923-2002), who was a co-founder of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).[4]

Career

In 2003, Sandelson founded GuestInvest with Sir Mark Weinberg, and the company bought hotels and sought to sell 999-year leases on individual rooms for £300,000 to £1 million as investments.[5] GuestInvest went into administration in 2008, with investors "concerned that they may not get their money back", as it was not regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).[6] In 2008, GuestInvest owned six hotels including Blakes Hotel, Nest and The Jones, both near Hyde Park, and the Chiswell Street Hotel, all in London.[6]

Sandelson is one of the principals behind the recent acquisition of large parts of the Queensway district of West London.[7] [8] He was said to have masterminded the acquisition of Whiteleys and is continuing in partnership with Meyer Bergman on the development of a number of buildings within the Queensway Estate.

Sandelson's previous projects include the Carlyon Bay redevelopment project in St Austell, Cornwall; the acquisition and redevelopment of Somerset Place in Bath[9] where, over 5 years, he oversaw the restoration and redevelopment of a Georgian crescent of houses and apartments, all Grade 1 listed properties; and the HBOS-backed hotel investment brand GuestInvest which was a high profile casualty of the downturn in the UK commercial property market in 2007.

In 2015, also in partnership with Meyer Bergman and advised by Savills, Sandelson completed the £250m Project Soya portfolio of sites in Tolworth, Woolwich and Kensington which was recognised as Deal of the Year in the 2016 RESI awards.[10] Sandelson achieved planning consent for the Jericho Wharf site on the Oxford Canal. Also in 2015, Sandelson acquired for £80m the Mayfair building of Thomas Goode & Co., which continued to occupy the building as a tenant.[11]

In May 2016, Sandelson co-founded (with Karen Mulville) a high-end care home business, Auriens, with its first development in Chelsea, London due to open in 2019.[12] [13] [14]

In February 2018, together with his brother Robert Sandelson, he acquired the British Art Fair, formerly known as the 20/21 British Art Fair. The Fair has been running for 30 years, and will have a new home at the Saatchi Gallery as part of a major investment by its new owners.[2]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.siahaf.com/page/key-personnel/ Sponsors
  2. Web site: British Art Fair finds a new home and new investors. bqlive.co.uk. 16 April 2018.
  3. Web site: SANDELSON - Deaths Announcements - Telegraph Announcements. announcements.telegraph.co.uk. 16 April 2018.
  4. Web site: An Establishment Man: R.I.P. Victor Sandelson, 1928-2017. 21 March 2017. wordpress.com. 16 April 2018.
  5. Web site: Home suite home - The Spectator. The Spectator. 17 April 2018.
  6. Web site: GuestInvest goes into administration. Rebecca. Atkinson. 3 October 2008. moneywise.co.uk. 17 April 2018.
  7. http://www.cityam.com/article/1379337621/brunei-family-s-secret-500m-swoop-queensway? Brunei family’s secret £500m swoop on Queensway
  8. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/whiteleys-new-owners-reveal-1bn-masterplan-for-queensway-8819405.html Whiteleys’ new owners reveal £1bn masterplan for Queensway
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20130306020333/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/renovatinganddiy/9895148/Why-empty-shells-give-property-owners-a-blank-canvas.html Why empty shells give property owners a blank canvas
  10. Web site: Stars of residential shine at RESI Awards 2016. propertyweek.com. 16 April 2018.
  11. News: Peer cashes in on luxury retail's new domino effect. Hopkins. Kathryn. 2015-08-11. The Times. 2018-06-23. en. 0140-0460.
  12. News: A place where perennials will go to party. The Times. 27 May 2016. Ashworth . Anne .
  13. Web site: Caviar care home: retirement complex for 'oligarchs' to open in Chelsea. Rupert. Neate. 3 March 2018. The Guardian. 4 March 2018.
  14. News: Is this London's most glamorous retirement home?. Henrietta. Thompson. The Telegraph . 8 June 2016. 4 March 2018. www.telegraph.co.uk.