NJ Palisades Estate 75 Bluff Road, Fort Lee, NJ
Auction Details
- Important Update:
Guernsey’s is pleased to announce that an enthusiastic buyer for 75 Bluff Road has been found and accordingly, the auction is NOT being conducted - Auction:
June 8, 2PM - Location:
75 Bluff Road
Fort Lee, NJ 07024 - Viewing:
June 4 - 7, 12 - 7PM
June 8, 10 - 2PM or
By appointment only - Online Bidding:
www.liveauctioneers.com
- Absentee Bidding:
By e-mail, mail and telephone
Featured Item
The Auction
Guernsey’s, long-known for producing innovative, eye-opening auctions, will be entering the world of prestigious Real Estate when it sells at auction one of New Jersey’s most prestigious properties.
In the late 1940’s, mob kingpin Albert Anastasia, Jr. selected a spectacular 1.3-acre site on the Palisades cliffs with sweeping Manhattan views on which to build his Italianate-styled mansion. With money being no object, his resulting home, situated at the end of a long, gated drive and amidst a park-like setting was nothing short of magnificent. Designated 75 Bluff Road, it was no wonder that the estate’s many spacious rooms, complete privacy, and proximity to New York City directly across the Hudson made it the ideal setting for many gangland gatherings.
On October 25, 1957, Mr. Anastasia’s ownership of the property, and indeed his life, came to a sudden end when he was assassinated while in the barber’s chair at NYC’s Park Sheraton Hotel. The ensuing years saw the property change hands twice to owners celebrated for their positive accomplishments that were in stark contrast to the efforts of the now late Mr. Anastasia. First Del Webb, part-owner of the NY Yankees, and then popular comedian Buddy Hackett found themselves the owners of this grand mid-twentieth century estate.
Forty years ago, the property was sold to its present owner, Arthur Imperatore. Highly regarded for his efforts to improve the New Jersey shoreline, Mr. Imperatore’s endeavor’s include the creation and current ownership of what has come to be considered a critical link between NYC and points West... the NY Waterway ferry system. Consulted by world leaders and a pioneer in many fund-raising activities including research into cancer cures, Mr. Imperatore is parting with the home following the recent passing of his wife.
Guernsey's is being assisted in the presentation of this stunning estate by Joshua Baris, agent for the luxury New Jersey real estate firm, Prominent Properties. Those wishing to inspect this important residence and learn further details prior to the auction please contact Guernsey’s directly at 212-794-2280.
Information for Intending Bidders
PROPERTY FEATURES
PROPERTY: Approx. 51,000 square feet
VIEWS: Approx. 200 feet of unobstructed Hudson River / Manhattan skyline views
HOME: 8,551 square feet
TAXES: Approx. $82,000
ZONING
The property is located on two adjacent lots, both with river views. It is located in the R-2 (one-family) residential zone, which has a minimum lot size of 7,500 square feet. The large square footage of the property creates for the buyer a number of possibilities, including:
In other words, 75 Bluff Road exists as two lots. One lot contains the home, garage, outbuildings and pool. The other lot has beautiful landscaping but is otherwise unbuilt upon. In accordance with existing ordinances, one could - if so inclined - extend the main house into the adjoing lot, or build a second home on the southern lot with a river view, or build a second home plus a third home on the second lot with one home positioned to have a river view and the other home to be positioned nearer to Bluff Road.
Ten different possible Concept Plans are available depicting various ways the property can be built upon and/or sub-divided. Naturally, unless these drawings indicate “as of right” (such as those referred to above), any sub-division would be subject to local approval. To receive these Concept Plans, please contact Guernsey’s.
COMPARABLE
In the fall of 2015, the neighboring property to 75 Bluff Road was placed on the market. That property is similar in size to Bluff and contains a large contemporary home built within the last decade. That home has the same view of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline as has 75 Bluff Road. Also on that property is a second, older home close to the road. When the neighboring property came on the market, it was priced at $18.9 million. Several months later, the listing of this neighboring property changed. The contemporary house with the view was separated from the rest of the property and offered for sale on .4 of an acre, approximatly one third of the size of 75 Bluff Road. The reduced offering listed the property at $13.5 million. A few months after the listing change, the property was removed from the market.
THE HOME
GROUND FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
WOOD-PANELED FULL BASEMENT
GROUNDS
For additional information visit www.guernseys.com or contact Guernsey’s at 212-794-2280.
For media inquiries or to request an interview, please contact Dara Busch at 212-584-4271 or Guernseys@5wpr.com
Press
Guernsey's welcomes inquiries from the media regarding both past and upcoming events. A PDF copy of the press release and links to media coverage of 75 Bluff Road are available below:
• 75 Bluff - Estate Description
• A Gangster’s Paradise With Views, Thick Walls and a Slaughter Room (New York Times - Nov. 2)
• A view, thick walls and a slaughter room – Inside a gangster’s home in Manhattan (Domain - Nov. 3)
• On the Market: Both Cameron Diaz’s Condo and a Gangster’s Estate Could Be Yours (Observer - Nov. 3)
• Gangster's Paradise Up for Sale, Needs Some Love (Fox News - Nov. 3)
• Murder Inc. mobster's former Fort Lee mansion on the auction block (NorthJersey.com - Nov. 4)
• Live like a villain: Home of mob kingpin for sale (NJ.com - Nov. 5)
• Live like a mob kingpin: North NJ home up for auction (NJ1015.com - Nov. 8)