The Downtown News covered Barry Shy this week and the difficulties tenants have with his projects, shoddy workmanship etc.   Its fascinating to read about him after being involved with him in transactions.  Up close and personal, like the time he toured the basement of the Bartlett Building in the dark without a flashlight and other less fondly remembered moments, like when he began demo before owning the property.

One interesting fact that's little known about Shy is that he only became involved downtown on a fluke when Andrew Meieran did not have money to close on the Higgins Building deal, and the escrow officer knew "A guy from the valley who was interested in downtown."   Thus was born their ill fated partnership.