RAPPER DMX, who’s had scrapes with the law over charges of animal cruelty and drug possession, might now lose a Fifth Avenue townhouse because he didn’t promote a line of canine couture.
The vacant, 18-foot wide property at 2007 Fifth Ave. and East 124th Street – near the fancy Marcus Garvey Park – is due to be auctioned on Aug. 13.
The sheriff’s sale should satisfy a judgment – totaling $281,000 with interest – resulting from a breach of contract lawsuit filed in 2004.
Ellenville, NY-based Amusing Diversions won the right to the judgment after doggedly pursuing the star, whose real name is Earl Simmons, for not promoting its line of dogwear.
Sources said other creditors will also have their hands out at the sale, which could reap over $1 million.
DMX bought the property as an investment in 2001 for $725,000, but was never able to legally convert the single room occupancy building into high-priced rentals.
Getting the right to sell the Harlem property wasn’t easy.
On June 9, the pet product line obtained a court order stating a 2006 deed transferring the property to an entity headed by DMX’s wife, Tashera Simmons, was fraudulent, thus paving the way for the August sale.
Ironically, Eric Arginsky, head of Amusing Diversions, initially pursued the gravelly voiced DMX to promote its urban doggie wear after hearing him in public service announcements urging folks to be kind to their animals.
But the rapper had earlier been ordered to make the PSA when he was found guilty of animal cruelty in 2002 after New Jersey officials found he’d mistreated his 14 pit bulls.
“He had the bark and the growl. . .but we were definitely sold a bill of goods,” said Arginsky, who intends to be present at the sale.
The rapper’s manager, Trisha Lum, did not respond to requests for comment.
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The worldwide contractor Skanska will be moving to the full, 24,389 foot 32nd floor of the Empire State Building.
The company, now located at 136 Madison Ave., intends to create a super green, Platinum LEED-designated office designed by Cook + Fox.
“We have extensive recycling, green pest control, green cleaning products and an Energy Star building,” said Anthony Malkin, president of W&H Properties of the pre-war iconic trophy tower.
“We’re priced right, we haven’t dropped our rents and our quality is better known,” he said.
The 15-year lease had an asking rent of $62 a foot.
Steve Eynon negotiated in house for the Empire, while Louis Buffalino of CB Richard Ellis represented Skanska, which has 60,000 international employees.
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Parade Publications isn’t walking.
The magazine group renewed its 89,413 foot lease at 711 Third Ave. for the next 10 years.
The asking rent for the entire sixth floor, along with parts of the seventh and 15th floors, was $65 a foot.
Gregory Tosko of CB Richard Ellis was the grand marshal for the tenant, while Steve Durels headed up the festivities in-house for building owner SL Green Realty Corp.
