The Big Apple: City’s estate auction is a dud

Undercounted immigrants may explain smaller population than believed

New York City’s population reached a record high for a 10-year census of 8,175,133, according to the 2010 count released on Thursday, but it fell far short of the official forecast.

Mayor Bloomberg immediately challenged the Census Bureau’s finding, saying it shortchanged the city by as many as 225,000 people.

He said it was “inconceivable” that Queens grew by only 1,343 people since 2000 and suggested that the profusion of apartments listed as vacant in places such as Flushing and in a swath of southwest Brooklyn meant the census missed many hard-to-count immigrants.

There’s something about Inez Dickens and her taxes

City Councilwoman Inez Dickens co-owns four Harlem apartment buildings that have for months owed the city more than $100,000 in property taxes.

Dickens’ properties also

Auction: City lists Sutton Place and 8 more units

60 Sutton Place South

The city is holding an estate auction March 24 of nine apartments with minimum bids ranging from $82,000 to $680,000.  It is the first such auction of Manhattan properties in months.

The sale was announced on Sunday, and, in a departure from its usual practice, the office of Public Administrator Ethel J. Griffin advertised each unit separately in the New York Times classifieds in addition to its briefer display ad than in the past.

The real estate section was the only place where details about each apartment could be found (until this post, after a tedious treasure hunt through the listings). Strangely, the ads were not visible in an online search.

But the phone number where you supposedly can obtain more information is 212-788-8455.  Don’t waste your time looking for the Web site.

At least two of the co-ops

One is luckiest number at city estate auction

This is the best I ever can manage for a forbidden photo inside the impossibly lush Surrogate Courthouse.

Only a couple of dozen hopefuls turned out for the city’s estate auction in the Surrogate Courthouse yesterday, so two lone bidders ran away with co-ops at the minimum asking price.

Lawyer Glenn Ostrager was the sole bidder for the 825-sf apartment at 60 Sutton Place South, which he won for $580,000.  Paddle in hand, a second bidder dropped out before the auction even started after hearing the sale conditions read; among other things, the buyer is required to replace the metal-framed windows and the sliding glass door to the balcony.

Ostrager, who declined to be photographed or quoted much, said he lived in the area and planned to move into the new place.  That’s provided the board approves the sale.

Asked how he felt about succeeding with his bid, the lawyer responded by saying just this:

“I don’t have any reaction.”

Ostrager seemed like a nice enough guy, but let’s say that he wouldn’t be my first choice for a dinner companion.

No one showed up to bid on the units offered at

City schedules estate auction of one-bedroom Sutton Place South co-op plus 6 other apartments

60 Sutton Place South

Co-ops ranging from Sutton Place South to Washington Heights are scheduled for another of the city’s estate auctions on Aug. 26.

Among the units to be sold is an 825-sf apartment at 60 Sutton Place South, a 1953 building in which 11 of 357 co-ops are on the market with asking prices from $605,000 for a 750-sf residence to $2.495 million for one of 2,410 square feet.

Manhattan Public Administrator Ethel J. Griffin will seek to dispose of the properties, which can be inspected Aug. 12, 17, 19 and 24  from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.  The following co-ops go on the block starting at 11:30 a.m. (usually later, however), and I expect to be there: