Tulfan Terrace redux

To the editor:

Approximately ten years ago, I found it necessary to write a letter to the editor to correct some errors in the reporting about Tulfan Terrace. I find it unbelievable that this story is still being erroneously circulated, so I hope to set the record straight once and for all. 

Lorraine Coyle Koppell was not my broker on Tulfan Terrace, nor anyone else’s broker.  I hired Ms. Koppell to represent me as my attorney, once I realized I was being forced out (had I refused to sell, there would have been two buildings — one on each side of my house).  

I had been contacted by Stephen Eldridge, who said he had someone interested in buying my house.  He was the broker who represented the developer on all three houses that came down.  If I recall correctly, Steve Eldridge received $50,000 as the broker for each of the three houses.  Ms. Koppell’s legal fee was $1,000.

I do remember that, once we realized the inevitable, some of the homeowners across the street from me wanted to sell too, but the developer chose only the three houses on the south side. It saddens me that my former neighbors on Tulfan Terrace have been living in a mess for all these intervening years. It also saddens me that Ms. Koppell, because of the erroneous report that she was the broker, continues to be vilified after all this time.  I know that the Riverdale Press did print a retraction, but unfortunately, the original story seems to be the one that is recalled. I hope this serves to clear up the misconceptions that still remain.

Thank you,

DiAnn K. Pierce
Former Riverdale resident