Staff photo by Angie Baan
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I
BILL CARROLL
Special to the Jewish News
A
lfred Taubman's lawyers had to provide infor- -
mation about him to the court for a probation
report. It was before a judge sentenced him in
the Sotheby's-Christie's international auction house
rate-fixing trial in 2001. The attorneys listed
Taubman's philanthropic donations.
The total was astonishing: $100 million given to
charities, most of them Jewish organizations!
The judge sentenced the Bloomfield Hills mega-phi-
lanthropist to one year and a day -in prison. With cred-
it for good behavior, he served 10 months. The infa-
mous auction house episode of Taubman's life is
behind him, but his generosity continues to comple-
D E2110agg3eCUI& F L
The ULI provides leadership in the use of land in
order to enhance the total environment.
'Al Taubman's drive and vision are inspirations not
only to the Jewish community, but to all who work
hard to achieve their goals," said Michael Layne, a
partner in Marx Layne & Company, the Farmington
Hills-based marketing and public relations firm.
He said Taubman's philanthropic work and busi-
nesses now provide "medical care for thousands, jobs
for. thousands and high-quality shopping environ-
ments for millions."
Looking Back
Taubman, 81, speaking from his Bloomfield Hills
office, recently reflected on his 55-year career as a land
developer and ardent supporter of Jewish causes. The
TAI.13113111111X
HONORE
Urban Land Institute to bestow
its Lifetime Achievement Award.
ment his business acumen.
The billionaire shopping mall tycoon, a pioneer in
the U.S. retail real estate industry, will be recognized
for his business efforts Tuesday, May 10, when he
becomes the first recipient of the Lifetime
Achievement Award presented by the Detroit District
Council of the national Urban Land Institute. The
honor will be bestowed at the Ritz -Carhon Hotel in
Dearborn.
"I think it's great," said Taubman. "I'm not looking
for awards. I always tried to use my land projects in a
positive way and also because I thought they were
exciting and interesting. We in the Urban Land
Institute have always sought to help solve the nation's
land problems."
The award is being presented for his efforts in the
Metro Detroit real estate community as well as his role
as a community leader through civic, charitable and
philanthropic endeavors.
'Al Taubman's work and civic involvement epito-
mize the mission of ULI Detroit and is an inspiration
to our entire community," said Mark LoPatin, the
award committee chairman.
office is filled with mementos and family pictures,
including a photo of him and his beloved friend, the
late Max Fisher, taken in a Palm Beach, Fla., restau-
rant just two weeks before the Franklin philan-
thropist's death March 3.
A hallway is lined with cartoons of Taubman and his
exploits — "favorable and unfavorable" — that
appeared in local and national newspapers. He buys
the original from the artist and has it framed.
Taubman worked as a store sales clerk, shoe sales-
man and golf caddie as a teenager. He founded the
Taubman Co. in 1950, which has evolved into
Taubman Centers, Inc. He grew up in Pontiac, where
his father, Philip, a German immigrant, helped start a
small synagogue among about 60 Jewish families in
the area.
After attending Lawrence Technological Institute in
Southfield and the University of Michigan's College of
Architecture and Urban Planning in Ann Arbor, with-
out graduating, he got a $5,000 bank loan and started
his pwn construction company in Oak Park.
"I built homes and stores and did pretty well, but my
big break was persuading Max [Fisher] to let me design
Al Thubman: "I always tried to use
any land projects in a positive wad
and also because I thought they were
exciting and interesting"
his 200 Speedway 79 discount gas stations. I met Max
at the same party where he met his wife, Marjorie.
"Max always use to kid me that he made me a success
in business," Taubman said, laughing. "I told him I had
been doing all right on my own before that, but he gave
me a good-natured needling about it."
Taubman created a separate division to remodel the
stations, adding service bays and special exterior and
interior lighting. He believes the improvements were a
major factor in Marathon Oil Co.'s purchase of Fisher's
Aurora Gas Co.
Mall Boom
In the 1950s, Taubman took advantage of the rapid
expansion of the interstate highway system and began
providing luxurious indoor shopping malls to the
legions of middle-class families moving from the
nation's cities to the suburbs. His first shopping center
in 1953 was the 26-store North Flint (Mich.) Plaza.
Taubman Centers now has about 500 employees and
24 shopping centers in 12 states, including Great Lakes
Crossing in Auburn Hills, Fairlane Town Center in
TAUBMAN HONORED
on page 40
5/5
2005
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