Chelsea Resort tenants feud around mould, extortion

For 145 a long time, the Chelsea Hotel has been a scene of creative greatness — Arthur C. Clarke wrote “2001: A Area Odyssey” there — and tragedy, including the deaths of Nancy Spungen and “The Shed Weekend” author Charles R. Jackson.

But by no means has the Chelsea viewed a war like what’s now using put.

On a person aspect, people of 5 lease-controlled flats have submitted lawsuits and issues saying, among the other factors, “river flowing on 10th fl east,” “stench of mold” and “vermin infestation.”

On the other, co-proprietor Ira Drukier — along with some tenants — argues that these persons are only seeking for major buyouts: a total of $42 million, he promises.

It is gotten so nasty that 1 courtroom doc alleged that Drukier “spewed spittle” into a tenant’s deal with. “I’m a 75-12 months-outdated person. I never go about attacking men and women,” Drukier explained to The Publish.

Very last thirty day period, married people Philip Taaffe and Gretchen Carlson filed go well with about statements together with drinking water injury, a wrecked ceiling and lack of heat. “I viewed my household crumble,” Carlson, who has lived there considering the fact that 1995, explained to The Write-up.

But Drukier’s attorney, Jennifer Recine, stated the two “have lived complete time in Cornwall, Conn., considering that 2014 and do not want their condominium fixed they [want] hundreds of thousands of dollars to ‘give back’ a rent-stabilized apartment they really don’t live in.”

“It’s tricky to solution about going back again,” Carlson explained. “You can not sheetrock above damaged pipes [when] there is mold. These are not minimal household repairs.”

Inhabitants of four more models have lodged related litigation. ‘These tenants have been fabricating and embellishing difficulties in an attempt to extort income,” said co-operator Richard Born. “Comments manufactured by them are suspect.”

In the meantime, other renters are frustrated by complainers holding up the get the job done. The beefs have prevented Drukier from finding a Certificate of No Harassment to keep on renovations in occupied residences. (He said that numerous tenants get a 35 percent rent abatement because of construction.)

Zoe Pappas, head of the tenants affiliation, instructed The Write-up that to steer clear of litigious neighbors, she doesn’t use the elevator.

“They trash me,” she explained, introducing that some favor the hotel’s starving-artist previous, when Madonna and Patti Smith lived in squalor. “I heard of one particular not seeking a private rest room!” In truth, some spaces share communal restrooms.

Carlson’s pad has two bathrooms, but she mentioned each are out of assistance: “Did they be expecting me to use a litter box?”

“A several tenants won’t allow the hotel be concluded,” nightclub promoter Susanne Bartsch, who has lived at the Chelsea for 39 a long time, explained to The Submit. “I am unwell of the dust. Why not allow house owners finish their f–king lodge?”

Construction has been ongoing because 2011, when the creating was sold to the to start with of 3 recent proprietors Drukier and his associates purchased it in 2016 for about $250 million.

Drukier insists he wants to do effectively by tenants residing below decrepit ailments in rooms that have not been renovated for decades. “[One said] that design bothered him. I offered to make him an condominium two times the sizing of his latest one, on a further floor, for the rent that he is having to pay. He refused . . . There are a good deal of peculiar folks here.”

“My consumers are in these extremely beneficial residences,” explained attorney Leon Behar, who represents the tenants who have submitted go well with. “They had been not compensating us with sufficient income to go away rent-regulated apartments. [Drukier] desires to systematically harass my customers so they will depart and [he] can run it as a luxurious lodge.”

But Drukier — who suggests lodge place prices will be comparable to these at The Bowery Hotel (about $325 for every night time) that he also co-owns — sees worth in longtime people. “We have no fascination in obtaining them out,” he stated.

“Part of the cause people remain in the Chelsea is to see inventive tenants.”