Some of the top stories this past week on The Lo-Down:
TWO PARCELS, PART OF HUGE REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO, LISTED FOR $9.5 MILLION
Two parcels at 227 East Houston Street have been put up for sale for $9.5 million. The lot, measuring 50 by 100 feet, is owned by the estate of William Gottlieb, the real estate tycoon who amassed $1 billion in New York City property holdings. Records indicate Gottlieb acquired 327 East Houston from the New York City government at public auction in 1999 for $300,000. The property next door was originally purchased from the city by a company called Gilco Real Estate at public auction in 1977 for $3,000; Gottlieb subsequently acquired it in 1984 (no sales price was recorded).
LES APARTMENTS UP FOR AUCTION DEC. 8
You could get a good deal on a Lower East Side apartment next week.  Bids will be accepted on two Grand Street properties Thursday, December 8, as the New York County Public Administrator’s office tries to liquidate several estates at auction. A one-bedroom on the 10th floor of 570 Grand St. in East River Co-op with a balcony and Williamsburg Bridge views starts with a minimum bid of $400,000. A one-bedroom on the sixth floor of 210 E. Broadway in the Seward Park Co-op with park views, starts with a minimum bid of $370,000. The apartments are available for viewing Monday through Wednesday (Dec. 5-7) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sale will take place Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at 31 Chambers St.
MTA SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR “DELANCEY UNDERGROUND”
This past month, the cash-strapped MTA posted a video-tour on its YouTube Channel, touting the abandoned trolley station below Delancey Street as a rare “development opportunity.”  In September, two entrepreneurs went public with a proposal to turn the all-but-forgotten space into a subterranean park. MTA officials like the idea but say they’d love to see “hundreds” of other ideas before deciding how to proceed. They have expressed a clear preference for revenue producing pitches (including a possible night club). Dan Barasch and James Ramsey, the visionaries behind the underground park idea, sent out an email blast last week, seeking donations for preliminary engineering and architectural studies.
PARTICIPATE IN HEALTH STUDY; GET FREE CHINATOWN Y MEMBERSHIP
Columbia University is embarking on four medical studies about exercise, and the researchers are looking for local residents as subjects. Participants will be compensated with small stipends, and also with free memberships to the Chinatown YMCA. The studies are intended to learn more about the relationship between aerobic exercise and diseases like Alzheimer’s. The researchers are looking for people between the ages of 20 and 40 or 50 and 75 who are healthy and not currently exercising.  Participants will be taking part in a 12- or 24-week study where they will be exercising at the YMCA four times a week for an hour each time. If you’re interested, should call the Department of Behavioral Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center at 212-851-5595.
DEADMAU5 CONCERT AT PIER 36 NEW YEAR’S EVE
The Canadian dance/electro artist Deadmau5 (otherwise known as Joel Zimmerman) is bringing his live show to Pier 36 New Year’s Eve. The popular music producer has packed in huge crowds at venues worldwide. The December 31st concert is the latest high profile event to be held in the future home of Basketball City. The privately-run sports & entertainment complex is scheduled to open sometime next year at the pier, located on South Street and Montgomery Street.  Residents of Gouverneur Gardens, the housing complex across the street from Basketball City, have raised concerns about noise and crowd control on New Year’s Eve.
