I'm one of the people they got out. Here's the short answer:
Some tenants were covered by the Loft Law, and some had some other less powerful legal rights. The legal battles had been going on since before the current owners bought the place.
The current owners settled with those covered by the Loft Law in one big settlement and the remainder were bought out with various smaller settlements over time as the legal process ran its course.
The current owners did not resort to strongarm tactics or harassment although they certainly weren't kidding around in negotiations either.
I lived there a long long time and enjoyed it tremendously. It was an adventure and I was sorry to see it end. You'd all slit your wrists (or mine) if you totalled up what I paid and what I got in terms of space -- and how much I netted in profit as a renter.
The old Dumbo was great fun, but the city does not stand still, which is a thing I like about it. By some combination of courage and luck, most of the 220 Water tenants were able to assert our rights on the way out.
If Josh Gutman had bought it, on the other hand...
I'm one of the people they got out. Here's the short answer:
Some tenants were covered by the Loft Law, and some had some other less powerful legal rights. The legal battles had been going on since before the current owners bought the place.
The current owners settled with those covered by the Loft Law in one big settlement and the remainder were bought out with various smaller settlements over time as the legal process ran its course.
The current owners did not resort to strongarm tactics or harassment although they certainly weren't kidding around in negotiations either.
I lived there a long long time and enjoyed it tremendously. It was an adventure and I was sorry to see it end. You'd all slit your wrists (or mine) if you totalled up what I paid and what I got in terms of space -- and how much I netted in profit as a renter.
The old Dumbo was great fun, but the city does not stand still, which is a thing I like about it. By some combination of courage and luck, most of the 220 Water tenants were able to assert our rights on the way out.
If Josh Gutman had bought it, on the other hand...
Posted by: Ex220Water at July 17, 2009 8:37 PM in response to Conversion Planned for 201 Front Street