THE ASSEMBLY . CHAIR

Committee on Correction

 

Codes Subcommittee on
STATE 0 EW YORK Criminal Procedure
ALBANY - COMMITTEES
Codes
Education
Environmental 
DANIEL . 
Member of Assemny .
69?? Assembly District Toiggii? Flogging-1:2: 
October 28, 2014
Honorable Darryl Towns
Hampton Plaza

38?40 State St.
Albany, NY 12207

 

I write regarding 945 West End Avenue, a building in my district where my of?ce has been working
with your agency. Thank you for the strong work thus far by the Tenant Protection Unit  I
want to update you as to where things currently stand and urge you to not only monitor this matter
closely, but to actively enforce compliance with the applicable law.

In July, I contacted TPU Bureau Chief Gregory Fewer regarding 945 West End Avenue. I forwarded
him a letter from a resident which claimed that the landlord was receiving a j?Sl tax abatement
without giving all the tenants rent stabilized leases and the associated protections. The TPU
investigated and made an administrative determination that all units in the. building are in fact
subject to rent regulation. This determination was shared with the landlord in a letter dated August

. 14, 2014. The TPU instructed the landlord to issue rent stabilized leases to all residents and register
all units with within 30 days. Assistant Commissioner for Intergovernmental Affairs, jeff
Margolis, then attended a meeting at the building held by the tenants on October 7, 2014 where
these issues were discussed. I sincerely appreciate the attention given to this matter and the quick
determination. A copy of all correspondence is attached for your review.

Given the seriousness of the circumstances, I want to share with you some additional information
for your ongoing efforts. At the October building meeting, it came to my attention that despite the
clear letter from your agency, the landlord hasnot followed its directive. It is now well past the
thirty?day timefrarne outlined in the letter, yet the landlord has failed to issue appropriate rent
stabilized leases to current tenants. At the same time, he continues to rent out vacant apartments
with market rate leases-and issue new market rate leases to existingtenants. Additionally, the August
14th letter from the TPU states that 8 apartments in the building are not registered with 
unfortunately, I believe that to be a signi?cant undercount. I have been made aware by the tenants
that many other units do not have rent regulated leases, and by one survey, only 14 of the 48 units in
the building actually hold those types of leases. Additionally, in some units, the rental registration
does not match the lease held by the resident; For example, some apartments are registered with
your agency as rent controlled, but the tenant holds a market rate lease. 

The potentially farsreaChing, persistent actions taken by the landlord in this building are highly
troubling. I look forward to continuing to work together to bring this landlord into compliance with

Cl DISTRICT OFFICE: 245 West 104?'1 Street, New York, New York 10025 - 212-866-3970, Fax: 212-864-1095
Cl ALBANY OFFICE: Room 526, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 - 518455-5603, Fax: 513?455-3812
Email Address: odonneHd @assembly.state.ny.us

 

Mr. Toma:
Camber 23, 2'0 74
Page 2 #2

_the law and ask that you impose apprOpriate penalties. Please keep nae-informed of steps your 
agency intends to take on this matter.

Very only yours, - I 

I Daniel O?Donnell
'Assembly Member

    

Enclosures

Cc: Gregory C. Fewer, Bureau Chief
Cuzzrent Tenants, 945 West End Avenue

DOD /es