Access to basement in a Co-op

I am president of brownstone co-op in Park Slope.  Our basement is only accessable to members (for storage) & maintenance people by walking across our neighboring property backyard. A new neighbor has moved next door and he no longer allows us to walk across his property because our co-op have no easement agreement and for security reasons.  In addition, the original sponsor in the 1980s, blocked off the main stairwell so only the member living on the ground floor can access the basement.  That member will not allow maintenance people or other members thru’ his apt to the basement.  He says this access is for his use only. Please send me any ideas on how I can resolve this situation.  Is there a building code about this?

gillers

in Co-Op Related 12 years ago

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mousta | 12 years ago

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I agree it’s insane. In my old building the only access to the utilities was through the garden unit. They didn’t like it but they realized it was for everyone’s benefit. Nobody had a key to their place, they just worked it out. Is this person on the board? Can you trade some other responsibility they have for this one. Maybe take something off their plate as a concession.

slopegirl | 12 years ago

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can you ammend the by-laws to require the downstairs unit to allow access? this seems insane not so much by your neighbor (well, slightly) but certainly by the basement dwelling occupant. Definitely he is an ass.

Hunt4MiddleClass | 12 years ago

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Sounds messy.  Can you offer your neighbor a liability waiver with some sort of annaul fee for right of use to access the entry via his property?  Your ground floor shareholder is never going to allow members into his apt for access and you can’t really blame him.  He’s an ass for denying maintenance people, though.  As a shareholder, isn’t in his own best interests to allow for regular maintenance?!