HIGH ROLLERS EYING JEWEL
For sale to highest bidder: 'corporate opulence'

Potential buyers have toured the former Adelphia Operations Building in Coudersport in recent weeks. One possible bidder created a stir on Tuesday as his chopper touched down outside the building Tuesday. Built at a cost about $30 million, the structure will likely sell for a fraction of that amount. Midge Ingalls photo

With the bid deadline less than two weeks away, a number of investors and potential employers have shown an interest in what was once a plush $30 million headquarters for Adelphia Communications Corp. in downtown Coudersport.

On Tuesday, a central Pennsylvania interest dropped by literally - for a tour of the former Adelphia Operations Building on South Main Street, where about 35 employees are clinging to their jobs with the Adelphia estate.

The helicopter created quite a buzz as it landed in a parking lot behind the massive building.

It's on the block through an Internet real estate auction specialist, LFC Online. So far, the opening bid is $1,000,001, but that's likely to escalate as the Oct. 11 deadline draws closer.

LFC Online is also selling most other remaining Adelphia real estate assets. They consist of nearly 100 properties located in several states, including both raw land and developed sites. Proceeds will be used to settle with creditors as the company dissolves.

The Operations Building and scattered other Coudersport properties are among those up for auction on LFC's website (lfc.com).

"Due to the diverse nature of the property portfolio, we required wide market exposure and a transparent sales process," said Paul Hemann, assistant treasurer for the Adelphia estate, in explaining the decision to sell the parcels online.

The Operations Building is advertised by LFC as "a stunning 72,056 square foot, three-floor office building with fullyfinished basement (that) can house an estimated 2,000 employees with total Internet connectivity . . . two colossal granite pillars mark your arrival to corporate opulence."