[HK-Online] Manh. Plaza Residents Demand Fairness by New Owners

[Kitchen]

Hell's Kitchen Online                                3/27/04
http://hellskitchen.net "All the News the Times Won't Print"
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IN THIS ISSUE ...

1. Legal Action Considered Against New Owners of Manhattan Plaza
2. Same, in Spanish
3. Massive rent increases threaten the homes of Broadway performers

Note: Many Hell's Kitchen residents and readers of our mailing list live in 
Manhattan Plaza. The changes and potential changes in MP are but a 
microcosm of many real estate pressures facing the West Side. MP residents 
should become educated and aware of issues that could substantially affect 
their ability to live in the neighborhood.

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LEGAL ACTION CONSIDERED AGAINST NEW OWNERS OF MANHATTAN PLAZA

Jack Lester, a New York tenant lawyer has been retained by the Manhattan 
Plaza Residents Alliance to press for equitable treatment of residents from 
the new owners of Manhattan Plaza, Related Company. Mr. Lester has 
represented the tenants of Stuyvesant Town, the World Trade Center (after 
9/11), Westbeth, The Soho Alliance, among many others.

MPRA will host a meeting net Wednesday with Mr. Lester as the featured 
speaker, who will answer questions regarding protections for Manhattan 
Plaza residents, preserving the Section 8 subsidy and secure the MP 
community for the future. Residents are demanding full disclosure, 
statutory compliance, and due process to prevent future restructuring of 
their rents, and fair and reasonable maintenance of their apartments.

MEETING
WEDNESDAY MARCH 31,2004
AT HOLY CROSS CHURCH
7:30 PM

Manhattan Plaza Residents Alliance
http://www.manhattanplazaresidents.org

Email address: residents@manhattanplazaresidents.org
or espanol@manhattanplazaresidents.org

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ATTENCION!!!!
TODO RESIDENTES DE MANHATTAN PLAZA

ACCION LEGALES SE ESTAN
TOMANDO EN CONTRA DE LOS
DUENOS DE MANHATTAN PLAZA

El Señor Jack Lester, licensiado en Nueva York es un experto en los 
derechos de inquilinos, y nos esta representando en nuestro caso. El señor 
Lester ha representado los inquilinos de Stuyvesant Town y el World Trade 
Center despues del (9/11) el edificio Westbeth, Soho Alliance y varios mas 
en su carerra de veinte años. El solamente se dedica a representar a los 
inquilinos, nunca los dueños ni los constructores

Vengan todos para oir como esta accion protejera todo inquilino contra las 
injusticias de subidas de renta y acoso, y protejer el subsidio de seccion 8.
Estamos moviendo asi adelante para protejer nuestros hogares.

Demandamos completa revelacion, obediencias reglamentarias y proceso 
debido, para prevenir cambios de rentas que no nos conviene.

El Licenciado Jack Lester estara presente para oir todas sus preguntas.

REUNION

MIERCOLES, MARZO 31, 2004
EN LA IGLESIA HOLY CROSS A LAS 7:30 P.M.
Para preguntas llame a Hiram Gonzalez al 212-736-6142
O mandenos un E-mail por computadora a
espanol@manhattanplazaresidents.org

Manhattan Plaza Residents Alliance www.MANHATTANPLAZARESIDENTS.ORG

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MASSIVE RENT INCREASES THREATEN THE HOMES OF BROADWAY PERFORMERS.
Press Release from MPRA

The sale of Manhattan Plaza threatens massive rent increases for many of 
the performing artists who live there. The home to several thousand 
performing artists Manhattan Plaza was sold to the Related Company, the 
company that recently built the AOL Time Warner building in NYC.

In response to the sale of Manhattan Plaza, a group of tenants are suing 
the parties involved for failure to disclose properly the details of the 
sale in a timely manner. Despite repeated requests by tenants for documents 
and Freedom of Information requests, the government agencies responsible 
for the approval of the sale that affects 3000 residents have not complied. 
The Manhattan Plaza Residents Alliance has initiated legal proceedings 
demanding full disclosure, statutory compliance and due process to prevent 
the restructuring of the rents. The Residents Alliance has retained Jack 
Lester, the well known tenants advocate lawyer for groups such as Westbeth, 
Soho Alliance, and tenants of the WTC (after 9/11).

At an initial meeting with tenants, the new landlord (The Related Company) 
and elected officials assured residents that the rents and subsidies would 
not change. Tenants became distrustful when it was subsequently 
revealed­the day before the sale­that The Related Company was planning a 
strategy to extract more money from the government and tenants through a 
“mark up to market” program, potentially raising rents 150%.

A mere twelve hours after tenants extracted the truth from Related, HPD had 
approved the deal, and by the following day the closing took place. The 
deal was conducted behind closed doors and the tenants, the performing arts 
Unions, and numerous elected officials were deliberately left out of this 
process. Residents are reeling and asking - ‘how could a transaction 
involving a publicly funded building take place faster than the average 
house sale, without any reasonable disclosure to the community and the 
taxpayers it affects?

One would be hard pressed not to acknowledge that the Manhattan Plaza 
performing arts community has forged the way to the renaissance of New York 
City’s theater district. Neighborhood residents, the elderly and disabled 
comprise 30% of the building; the remaining 70% is mandated to be working 
in the performing arts industry. This unique use of public funds was meant 
to foster diversity, creativity, and revitalize both a neighborhood and the 
Performing Arts industry. By any measure, the project has been a resounding 
success, earning Manhattan Plaza the nickname: “The Miracle on 42nd Street.”

These buildings house over 3000 people who work, live and raise their 
children in Times Square. A former Manhattan Plaza tenant, Larry David, 
created the TV series “Seinfeld” while living in the building. The real 
“Kramer” is a tenant still. The next generation of performers, Alicia Keys 
of Grammy fame and Donald Faison from the hit TV sitcom "Scrubs” grew up 
here. The co-creator of “Blues Clues” lives here and Tennessee Williams 
died here. What a tragedy it would be for this community and city to lose 
such a treasure as this incubator for the performing arts.

There will be a meeting at 7:30 PM Wednesday March 31 in the basement of 
Holy Cross Church on West 42nd Street. The Manhattan Plaza Residents 
Alliance will announce the legal action taken to put a spotlight on the 
backstage deal.