Tenants Complain About Problems at New Luxury Rental in South Williamsburg
Tenants at 53 Broadway in Williamsburg, a luxury rental finished last August, are complaining about exorbitant electric bills, parking lot problems and not having a promised 24-hour doorman. One resident told us, “My personal bill for my two-bedroom apartment was $700 last month, even though my roommate and I are at work all day and…
Tenants at 53 Broadway in Williamsburg, a luxury rental finished last August, are complaining about exorbitant electric bills, parking lot problems and not having a promised 24-hour doorman. One resident told us, “My personal bill for my two-bedroom apartment was $700 last month, even though my roommate and I are at work all day and were on vacation for two weeks that month.” She thinks the electricity in some of the units may be wired incorrectly, because other tenants report Con Ed bills as high as $1,043 (for a three-bedroom).
Tenants in the 75-unit building also say that they were promised a functional parking lot with a lift system manned by a 24-hour attendant when they moved in during the fall. Instead, drivers can park in one of four long slots, causing cars to be blocked in if someone pulls in behind them. “We were asked to give the other tenants with parking spots our phone numbers and be on call 24 hours a day and would be responsible to return home to move our cars within a one hour window so if you were blocking someone they would be able to get their car out,” writes one driver.
Finally, residents say they were promised a 24-hour doorman, but their doorman was switched to part-time without anyone being notified. They’ve tried to contact the management company and the new owners, but the problems persist. Rents in the building start at $2,704 for a one-bedroom or at $4,216 for a two-bedroom.
A rep from Adam America, which developed the building with the Horizon Group, told us that the development changed hands a few months ago, selling to an owner called Broadway Brooklyn Acquisition LLC. We’ve tried to get in touch with the new owners, but we haven’t received any comment on these issues.
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Scaffolding Coming Down at 53 Broadway [Brownstoner]
This bad press is just the start of a tidal wave if Steven Berisha and Metro Management don’t step it up over here.
Do NOT move to 41 Kosciuszko, either. I had to read this article several times to make sure we weren’t being scammed by the same landlord. Exact same issues; lies about doorman, parking, etc… to get you in the door, then bring on those $500+ electric bills while away on vacay. Not only electric crap wall heaters/ac, but also separate (tiny) electric hot water heaters in each unit.
So outrageous…
As many commentators here would say if this story involved rent stabilized tenants:
You don’t like it MOVE!
Easier said then done
I had a $500 bill for a 1 bed in January. I was away half of it and got a $300 for Feb. We did not have the heating on once. This is really poor and the communication from the owners has been non existent. There is next to none information available for the ‘new owners’ online which makes it look as if they have just set up another company for this building.
My partner and I live here in a tiny one bedroom apt and our bills have been $500 for December, $700 for January and $500 for February. We don’t work from home or have pets. We turn the heat on for a few hours at night, barely watch tv and keep all the lights off. It simply does NOT compute. I and a few others in the building have held meetings for tenants in our freezing COLD LOBBY and people are outraged. Building management do NOT properly communicate with tenants, they seem to care less. It’s as if there is some form of theft happening and we are preparing to launch a proper investigation.
My bill was $400 for 27 days for a 1bdrm with only 1 heater on 65 (it’s supposedly more economical to keep it running at a low temp), the other heater completely unplugged, and zero lights on all day. Even with the higher energy costs, that’s nuts. I hardly use any of the electrical appliances other than that 1 heater and the fridge. It is outrageous to consider not only the electrical, but also the bailing-out on amenities (PS – the doormen actually got their time cut to leave an hour earlier at night), and the runaround from the management company. I’m not new to NYC rentals – I’ve been here for 20 years and this is probably the most complacent management company I’ve had. At least my last management company knew they were regarded poorly but still did the bare minimum. Nevermind getting this management to even ACKNOWLEDGE that near 75% of the building is having major electrical bill issues. I am seriously considering moving but that’s just more expense. It sucks that it’s coming to this.
We do, but we don’t use them. They have not been on for 6 weeks!
it is individually metered