Colonel Gaddafi, dictator of Libya since 1969, arrived in New York this week for his first visit to the annual UN General Assembly. After 11 years of UN sanctions, Libya now holds a seat on the 15-nation Security Council and the presidency of the 192-nation General Assembly. Libya’s rehabilitation has been dented by Scotland’s release of the Lockerbie bomber.and the hero welcome he received in Libya. The American outcry over Libya’s reaction to the release has made it difficult for Colonel Gaddafi to find a place to stay in the NY area.
The Libyan leader originally asked to pitch his customary Bedouin style tent in Central Park but was turned down by city authorities. No overnight housing is allowed at the park. He then considered staying at a Libyan-owned mansion in Englewood, but this caused an uprising in this New Jersey suburban community. Colonel Gaddafi ‘s staff then made arrangements to stay at the Pierre Hotel but was reportedly uninvited when guests complained.
So desperate for a place to stay the Libyan officials actually posed as Dutch and Sri Lanka diplomats to try to find Colonel Gaddafi a place to stay.
Over Labor Day a “Dutch official” approached Jason Haber, a property agent on the Upper East Side of New York to inquire about renting the Barclay Mansion, a six-storey townhouse on East 78th Street. The property, which comprises three apartments, is owned by a family who bought it last year for $18.5 million. The triplex on the first three floors was available for $28,000 a month. Haber said that he never presented the proposal to the owners because the Libyans wanted all three apartments, which were not immediately available. Haber mentioned that the ruse was easily detected after a few conversations, since the accents did not match and also the e-mails had a Libyan address.
Last weekend a agent representing the very luxurious Vile Nova Heights estates was contacted by a “Sri Lanka official ” who offered to lease 2 adjacent mansions for over $60,000  for a 6 day stay. Being cautious and curious about the request to erect a tent on the property  the agent requested more information about the tenant to be. When none was forthcoming the agent alerted John Fitzgerald, the developer and lawyer of Villanova Heights. An inquiry was made and when it was determined that Colonel Gaddafi was indeed the prospective tenant the developer refused on the grounds “it’s just not good to deal with liars from terrorist countries.”
Tonight it was reported by ABC news that Donald Trump may have inadvertently rented property in Bedford, NY a ritzy New York suburb in Westchester county to Colonel Gaddafi. An ABC News helicopter filmed a large tent on the 113-acre Seven Springs estate, complete with rugs and patterned wall hangings. The Trump Organization owns the property which is
slated to be subdivided into multimillion-dollar homes. Trump Organization spokeswoman said in a statement. “The property was leased on a short-term basis to Middle Eastern partners who may or may not have a relationship to Mr. Gaddafi. We are looking into the matter now,” Local officials onfirmed that Gaddafi was renting property in Bedford, but did not know if the dictator will actually stay in town. So why bother with the tent?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 at 10:06 pm and is filed under House to home, Lifestyles in Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate in the News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.