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]
I am a current resident and I think what they are doing is really messed up – the important thing is I hope prospective tenants see this and avoid the bait and switch. DON’T RENT HERE! The management company is crazy, it looks like they are going through all of this drama just to retaliate against a couple doorman. aside from the legality of that (not legal!) it is terrible business sense, and it is crazy they will ‘punish’ tenants to get back at a few employees in this way. I understand I am stuck where I am and it is my fault for trusting the building and management company, but I do hope this post serves as a warning to others who look at this building….
I think you can assume that once those two employees leave because their positions have been eliminated, the positions will magically reappear with new people to fill them.
A year ago I would have agreed. Now? In new “luxury” construction? That’s what it costs. Did you see the place with a sleeping loft and a “second bedroom” that is actually the subbasement laundry room on Fulton that was the rental of the day recently?
This is, somewhat unfortunately, how the free market works. Ironically, many tenants in the Arias are probably fans of that economic system, despite their sympathies for the poor doormen.
Why do you assume that only white people live in this building?
I came home frequently in the wee hours in my non-doorman building on 3rd Ave for over a decade. While nothing ever happened to me, I was never naive enough to believe the neighborhood was safe. I suspect, however, that like you, most people do feel their neighborhoods are safe. Until someone gets mugged, raped or shot to death. It can and does happen everywhere.
I need to move? To where? I did move, to slightly less sketchy 4th Ave, into. a building with a 24-hour doorman. And I pay accordingly.
And I’m a she.
Nah, I’m amusing myself with the shit show that is your ability to grasp simple concepts. Carry on.
It doesn’t even matter remotely why the tenants wanted a doorman, whether for safety, for convenience, just for the hell of it, or whatever. The point is they bargained for something that was then taken away. How you can think that being disgruntled about it is entitled behavior is baffling.
superfund, I feel very safe in my nabe. I’ve come home between midnight and 4 am almost everyday for 8 years. And I don’t have a doorman.
You need to move.