20 Grand Avenue: It Could Get Ugly
There’s a classic artists-versus-landlord fight brewing at 20 Grand Avenue. For years, the 60,000-square-foot commercially-zoned warehouse has been inhabited by a mix of Pratt students and young creative types in a mutually beneficial don’t-ask-don’t-tell understanding with the landlord. (One couple had their loft profiled in the New York Times a couple of years ago). As…
There’s a classic artists-versus-landlord fight brewing at 20 Grand Avenue. For years, the 60,000-square-foot commercially-zoned warehouse has been inhabited by a mix of Pratt students and young creative types in a mutually beneficial don’t-ask-don’t-tell understanding with the landlord. (One couple had their loft profiled in the New York Times a couple of years ago). As the real estate market has picked up in the area, the tenants claim, the landlord has steadily tried to make the building less liveable (removing laundry facilities, not fixing the elevator in a timely manner, removing heating from common areas) in an effort to force them out; over the past year he has refused to renew leases, but allowed tenants to live on a month-by-month basis. Last week, they received the eviction letter below, in which the landlord formally, and probably not too wisely, recognized them as residential tenants.
Meanwhile, the owner has been trying to get the building’s C of O changed to residential; since the change has not been forthcoming, he’s resorted to trying to sell the units as commercial condos with the marketing pitch, “Own a Grand Home for Your Business.” Wink, wink. The property is listed under “New Home Developments” on the Douglas Elliman site despite their status as commercial condos.
We’re curious about what the market is for commercial condos. Does anyone know how 241 231 Norman Avenue fared? What’s it like trying to get financing for something like this if you’re just a small mom-and-pop business? GMAP P*Shark
Actually, no, Joe Torres is a developer of properties in Brooklyn. He’s not the famous Mets manager. Ha ha.
The owner of this building is Joe Torres of the Mets.
If they are marketing these condos before their plan has been approved then Douglas Elliman and the owner of this site are in violation of regulations set up by the NYS AG’s office and this could jeapordize their ability to get their plan approved. This is crazy of both Elliman and the owner because all it would take would be for a tenant/s to complain to the Attorney General’s office. This stuff does indeed mess up things for developers. What fools. Or should I say, what greedy fools?
the prudential douglas elliman site says the the offering plan hasn’t even been filed yet
can commercial condos be purchased for residential purposes? what are the advantages/disadvantages?
It’s actually 231 Norman and you can see at their website http://www.greenpointlofts.com that they haven’t really sold much since I was looking at them in August. It’s such a shame because it would be better if small businesses could own their space as opposed to shelling out high rents and then build equity for their businesses instead, but the interest rates and cash required make it so hard for new businesses.
should be fixed now
i think that 241 norman link isn’t working.
Is there a website for these condos?