The auction for a mansion built by mob kingpin Albert Anastasia, Jr., scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed.
FORT LEE -- The auction for a mansion built by mob kingpin Albert Anastasia, Jr., scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed.
Arlan Ettinger, president of Guernsey's, said the auction house and owner Arthur Imperatore decided to delay the bidding while the house is redecorated.
Guernsey's is also trying to determine whether the 1.3-acre property can be subdivided, a question posed by a few potential buyers, Ettinger said.
"Why rush something when our purpose is to get it done properly?" Ettinger said.
The Italianate-style mansion sits atop the Palisade Cliffs on Bluff Road. Anastasia, who had a bloody career as part of a racketeering, strikebreaking and strong-arming outfit that came to be known as Murder, Inc., built the house in the late 1940s.
Subsequent owners included Del Webb, a former part-owner of the Yankees, comedian Buddy Hackett and today, Imperatore, founder and president of the NY Waterway ferry service.
Guernsey's has changed out much of the furniture and repainted some of the rooms.
The house may not go up for auction at all if a buyer emerges before bidding is scheduled, Ettinger said.
"Anybody interested in the property who perhaps hasn't seen it, need only call Guernsey's and we can easily set up an appointment for a private viewing, whether one is a broker or simply a possible buyer," he said.
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.