SHORT TAKES : Arledge Apartment Deal Stalled

ABC News President Roone Arledge’s plans to buy a Park Avenue apartment have been blocked by a couple’s claim that he schemed to keep them from buying it first.

Lou Elson, 27, and his wife, Sarah, 28, obtained a temporary court order that keeps Arledge from closing a deal to buy the apartment.

They charged in court papers that Arledge “illegally and unethically” schemed to keep them from buying the spacious cooperative apartment in Manhattan because he wanted it for himself.

The apartment was being sold at the reduced price of $599,500. It had been listed a year ago at $1 million.

The Elsons claim Arledge, who owns the only other apartment on the building’s 13th floor, was “extremely belligerent, hostile and antagonistic” toward them when they appeared before the building’s board in August.

They said they decided to sue when they learned Arledge was about to close a deal on the apartment for $599,500.

A woman who answered Arledge’s phone at ABC on Thursday said he was not there. Sherry Rollins, an ABC spokeswoman, said the network will not comment on the matter because it is personal.

The state court’s order issued last Friday keeps the apartment from being sold to anyone until there is a hearing to decide who has the first right to buy it.