LAURENCE KESTERSON / Staff Photographer
The 46th-floor space at Two Liberty Place that settled yesterday for the highest price ever paid for a Phila. condo was inaccessible. But musician Richie Sambora is letting sales staff use his as a model, above.
Dan Gross: Condo deals for stars?
REAL-ESTATE sources keep telling us that neither Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora nor Phillies hurler Cole Hamels, two of the famous names used to market the Residences at Two Liberty Place, actually purchased their condos. They say instead the pair received free leases in exchange for promoting the luxury high-rise.
According to the city's Board of Revision of Taxes, there are no records of Two Liberty condos being sold to Sambora, who has not yet moved into the building, or to Hamels and wife Heidi, who moved into the building in April.
"Mr. Sambora is under a binding agreement of sale and will close as soon as construction is complete on the floor in which his home is located," a building spokeswoman said yesterday.
The building's developer, the Falcone Group, out of Florida, announced in March 2008 that Sambora had paid $3.58 million for a furnished 52nd-floor condo.
The building has been using Sambora's pad as a model unit.
In March the Inquirer reported that the Hamelses had paid more than $2.2 million for their 2,700-square-foot, three-bedroom unit.
Have they? Asked whether the Hamelses had purchased a condo or had been given a free or discounted lease on a rental unit, a building spokeswoman replied:
"We are thrilled Cole and Heidi Hamels have chosen to reside at the Residences at Two Liberty Place, that they are enjoying life at the Residences and have become part of our building's community," the spokeswoman said.
"They are paying fair consideration; however, out of respect for the privacy of all of our residents and as a matter of policy, we do not release the terms of our residents' agreements of sale until transactions are a matter of public record," the spokeswoman said in an e-mail.
Several real-estate professionals tell us they believe that the agreements of sale that were signed by Sambora and Hamels likely have easy escape clauses in the event that the rocker or the pitcher decide not to buy.
Gary Papa memorial planned
A memorial service for 6ABC sports director Gary Papa will begin at 7:30 p.m. July 8 at the National Constitution Center. The service is not open to the public, but will be streamed live on 6abc.com and broadcast on 6ABC's D2 digital channel.
Papa died two weeks ago after a five-year battle with prostate cancer.
Rydell plays Dante Hall benefit
Bobby Rydell will play with the 16-piece orchestra of the Philadelphia Clef Club in a benefit event for Atlantic City's Dante Hall Theatre of the Arts on July 11. Tix are available by phone, 609-344-8877 or at dantehall. org.
Another local eater in Nathan's
Downingtown's Sean Gordon will also compete in Saturday's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island alongside Drexel Hill's Micah "Wing King" Collins, whom we told you about yesterday. Gordon tells the Daily Local News of Chester County that his secret is to dip the hot-dog buns in fruit punch. We'll have to wait and see if that propels him to victory in the popular gustatory athletics contest.
Her birthday benefits huskies
Not every 11-year-old is so thoughtful, but when Collegeville's Miranda Barton was asked what she wanted for her birthday, she asked that her friends and family bring gifts for the dogs in foster care with the local Tails of Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue. Miranda and her parents will donate the gifts at 4 p.m. today at the Texas Roadhouse (115 Garden Golf) in Montgomeryville, which will also donate to the rescue group. Anyone wishing to attend can print out a coupon at siberescue.com. *
Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest updates or follow PhillyGossip on Twitter. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.
