Page 59 - The Way to the Top

my way up East Sixty-ninth Street.

The line had started at 4:00 A.M., and by 8:30 had grown to include
hundreds of people desperate to snag an apartment. Tresa’s voice cut

through the crowd. “We will distribute the list of apartments
momentarily,” she said, demonstrating with broad flight attendant arm
motions. “And we’ll be handing it out starting in the front and will work
our way to the back of the line as quickly as possible. Please note that a

map is attached to the back of each list with all the addresses and
apartment numbers clearly marked. There are salespeople stationed on
every floor in each of the buildings, the apartment doors are open, so that
you can go in and look at any apartment you choose. Once you’ve made

your decision, however, you must return to this table in this lobby to sign
the contract.” She directed all eyes toward the banquet table, which stood
in the lobby with eighty-eight waiting contracts stacked high.

“When you are ready to sign a contract and leave us your ten percent
deposit check, the apartment will be immediately taken off the market.

Please have several apartments you’d like to try for, as your first choice
may already be taken! You’ll be given a copy of the signed contract to take
with you for your attorney.

“Okay, then” Tresa finished, and with great ceremony said, “we’ll now

hand out the list of apartments!” The crowd inched forward and I
wondered if I should have hired a few uniformed policemen to protect her,
or at least for dramatic effect.

Like a Macy’s One-Day Sale without the clothes, people began to run
the moment the list was in their hands. In the mayhem, everyone had a

strategy for charting, hunting, darting, looking, rushing, signing, and
buying. Some people waited on elevators, while others bolted for the
stairs. Some worked alone, while others worked in pairs.

The first successful buyer had flown in from Paris and had camped in

line since four in the morning. He signed a contract for a one-bedroom on
the highest floor, sight unseen, six blocks away.