The Arias Cuts Its Doorman Service
The Arias, the Park Slope rental building located along 4th Avenue, has cut back its doorman service and residents are not happy. A tenant writes in to explain: On Wednesday, we received an email from management informing us that they would be scaling doorman service back from 24 hours to 12 hours, between the decidedly…
The Arias, the Park Slope rental building located along 4th Avenue, has cut back its doorman service and residents are not happy. A tenant writes in to explain:
On Wednesday, we received an email from management informing us that they would be scaling doorman service back from 24 hours to 12 hours, between the decidedly un-NY compatible 8am to 8pm. This has elicited an aggressive response from residents — many of whom, like myself, just renewed our leases with rent increases (note: 2 days prior to the doorman email I received an email asking me to confirm I was staying, which hardly seems like a coincidence) — concerned about safety, convenience and, frankly, getting ripped off.
The management sent an email that said during nighttime hours, the Arias would utilize the building’s CCTV system which allows residents to see and speak to their visitors before letting them in. The building is also considering a “virtual doorman” which which would allow tenants to screen visitors and gain entry through an offsite command center. Our tipster has a few suspicions about the cutback. The building management received some heat this spring after firing two concierges for trying to organize their workplace, but it’s unclear if this dispute directly ties into this action. Our tipster also wonders if the management is considering selling condo units at the building, and may be trying to get renters to pack up.
Union, Pols Plan Protest at Arias Park Slope [Brownstoner]
Heather, the fact that I’m neither lazy nor complacent may be difficult for you to understand, as that seems to be your MO. “Oh, just throw your hands up and admit that you got screwed and move on because everybody gets screwed. And BTW, no complaining for you, because someone somewhere else has it worse.” Wait, why are you sad that you can’t comment properly? HOW DARE YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT COMMENTING ON A WEBSITE, WHEN HALF THE WORLD DOESN’T HAVE ACCESS TO WEBSITES! Good grief.
You don’t know whether any laws have been / are being broken. Neither do I. But I and many of my fellow tenants are investigating with the relevant regulatory bodies.
I’m not looking for sympathy. I’m simply commenting on a blog post about something that affects me and sharing my opinion. What’s your excuse?
I am sad that I can’t reply properly to comments.
But look, Super, you got a raw deal. The doormen also got a raw deal. Your management company, like every other one I’ve ever dealt with in New York, will do something dodgy if they can get away with it.
Nonetheless, no laws were broken. Unless a full-time doorman was advertised in your lease? New York is full of buildings that no longer have full-time doormen. Yours is just another one. And, when in a few months your management company munificently decides that “on behalf of the tenants” to hire more doormen? You’ll forget all about the plight of the old doormen in five seconds, and go back to complaining about the faulty stoves, the cracked backsplashes and the lack of hot water. (I read your building’s yelp reviews.)
What’s annoying is, your insistence, over and over again, that you “deserve” this amenity because “you pay enough for it.” Saying that over and over again makes you sound douchey and negates any sympathetic feelings I might have otherwise mustered up.
And finally, if you could at least have the decency to realize your plight, compared to many, is really, really not that dire.
“Protecting” themselves? From what? Being forced to pay prevailing wages?
Not for those two employees, it isn’t.
Also, I’m not a dude.
Heather, the amount I pay doesn’t matter. The fact is, I agreed to pay X and in return was promised to receive Y. Now Y is being taken away. Yet I’m still expected to pay X.
And not only that, but there are two people (the two front desk guys who would lose their jobs over this) who are clearly being retaliated against here. They were illegally fired before, so they fought back and won. Now, the management is trying to find a way to get rid of them. Not only is management attempting to screw over these two guys, they’re going to screw over every single resident as well. All while expecting us to pay a pretty penny for it. So yes, we’re not happy about it. For many reasons.
if i had a nickle for every nonsensical point heather has tried to make on here over the years i’d have enough to rent superfunds apartment for a month
Seriously, dude, I think you need to tell us what you pay if you’re going to keep bringing it up. Because I’m pretty sure I can find you some nice, 2 bedroom apartments for $5K/month with no doormen. Are you renting more than one apartment?
you must be tired