A real estate agent has been selected to sell the Van Dusen mansion, a Minneapolis landmark that recently was ground zero in an alleged Ponzi scheme. The government seized the building from an investment group led by money manager Trevor Cook and his associates, who allegedly defrauded more than 1,200 investors out of $191 million. Real estate agents told a judge Thursday that the 117-year-old mansion should be listed at just under $2 million.
The house at 1900 LaSalle Av. underwent a $5.3 million restoration, but has parking issues and an annual property tax bill exceeding $62,000. Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Davis, who is presiding over two lawsuits by regulators seeking to recover the investors' money, issued an order selecting Jimmy Fogel, an agent with Coldwell Banker Burnett, to sell the Van Dusen. Household goods salvaged from the property seizure will be among the 80 to 100 lots that will be auctioned off Feb. 22 by Luther Auctions in North St. Paul.
Dan Browning
