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LAST GASP: 239 Banker Street Gets SWO’ed (again)
Perhaps this has something to do with the pile of debris this fellow saw at this building’s “open house” last weekend? Among other things. Follows are a few complaints about this property I found interesting. Enjoy!
Reader Comment Du Jour: A Dispatch From 239 Banker Street
Some of you might recall that last week I posted an item about Greenpoint’s my favorite illegal residential conversion: 239 Banker Street. More specifically that this— one of Greenpoint’s more notorious “loft spaces”— was to have an “open house” last weekend (as seen at left). In this tome I wrote:
Your eyes are not deceiving you, Greenpointers. This weekend there will be an open house at 239 Banker Street! Those of you who are curious to see what an illegal residential conversion in an Industrial Business Zone looks like (or simply want to ask Mr. McHale a lot of really uncomfortable questions about the legal status and history of this building) this is your golden opportunity!
Guess what? Someone did! A commenter who calls himself/herself “gittlebass” writes today, July 2nd, 2012 (NOTE: I have taken the liberty of bold-facing my favorite passages— and there are many!):
i went to this.
1) the first broker never showed. when asked if we could see an apartment he said “if the door is open just go in and look around” which i did, and it was a horror show reminiscent of the basement scene from the burbs, i just couldn’t find the furnace. Also, they did the ol’ “This apt is on calyer and franklin” then when i got there “oh its a mistake in the ad, go to 239 banker st”
2) he said the rooms can be built out to whatever i would like. Ok, ill bite, how about…i dont know…windows and floors!? there was a huge mound of dirt in the middle of the hallway and bricks for where there should be a window. the realtor on the phone assured me that this would be ready for july 15th, which is impossible just short of a miracle in which jesus returns as the carpenter he was in order to build lofts for the poor.
3) All the apts had to be moved in by august 1st, no exceptions. i found this odd and asked them about it, they didn’t have a reason why, just that they had to be occupied. I was offered a free months rent to get me in there
4) It was a realtor frenzy there. I asked about the legality of the building because of its sordid past, and they offered to show me the documents that proved they were legal, only thing is, they had the docs in the office and had to go get them if we wanted to see them. i said i did and that i’d wait patiently, but she couldn’t leave cause there were other people coming to check out the place (red flag). She also told me that all my info was wrong and that no one was ever evicted. then there was this other broker who asked if i had a broker, i said he didn’t show up and then the broker who was there did the “money rub” with his fingers and at that point i left
overall it’s a shit show there and i feel bad for anyone who gets duped. save your money and get a nice place to live for cheaper. hell, even the gawdy condos they keep building are cheaper and LEGAL.
Fascinating!
UPDATE, 11:45 p.m.: It would appear 239 Banker Street was served a Stop Work Order this weekend. Click here for the deets (they’re interesting to say the least).
Reader Comment Du Jour: No Children Allowed At 239 Banker Street?
If a commenter we’ll call Wayne is to be believed this would appear to be the case. He writes:
The shenanigans at 239 Banker invoked enough curiosity that I called the broker. Apparently, these lofts have been renting like hotcakes as only five remain. I explained to the broker that I am looking for 1,500 square feet. Of course, he wanted to know my credit and income and how soon I could move in. Fair enough. Must have been my lucky day since of the five remaining lofts, there is one 1,500 square foot space. Upon further inquiry about what I could expect for a monthly rent of $4,000 [not the lesser amount noted on craigslist], the broker told me I would get just an open space. No heat. No hot water. Though the building has a laundry. Fair enough. It is what it is. I asked if the landlord would allow me to construct two bedrooms. Yes. I asked if a two-year lease was possible. No, was the retort. Only one year leases. I asked when my wife and two children could inspect the space. That’s when the conversation turned around. The broker informed me there’s graffiti across the street and all over, the area is dirty and very noisy, and the building in particular is very, very noisy. I explained to the broker that we are Greenpoint loft dwellers [100% legal building I might add] and what he was stating about the neighborhood does not match reality [except for the graffiti across the street, but so what]. He went on to tell me that the building is full of shares and egads, yes, hipsters, and there are no children in residence. Of course, not wishing to rent to a family is wholly illegal [the broker is clearly unaware of this] yet one has to give this broker a modicum of credit as he fully knows 239 Banker will blowup again with the DOB and to have a family evicted would not make for good press, particularly when the new owners just plunked down $9.1 million for this shipwreck.
Fascinating. Than again, given all the laws being broken here what’s another one?
New York Shitty Day Starter: 239 Banker Street, Revisited Once Again
Once again, a word from our City Councilman:
Heather,
I have noticed your posts and am glad you continue to bring light to the issue of lofts in Greenpoint and Williamsburg. The Loft Law was designed to protect residential tenants who, knowingly or unknowingly, moved into manufacturing or commercial spaces and it may grant rights for tenants to save and stabilize their housing and avoid the excessive costs associated with being vacated. With regard to 239 Banker Street, I cannot say whether they will be covered by the Loft Law. However, when the building was vacated in 2009, many tenants suddenly lost their living spaces as well as thousands of dollars in rent and security deposits. I do not want to see a repeat of that event. I will work to ensure that all building code issues at 239 Banker are addressed, but I hope to avoid seeing another vacate order if possible. All I can do is try to spread the word about the Loft Law so that tenants in such spaces can apply for coverage that they may be legally entitled to. Of course, the Loft Board will make final determinations about each application individually.
And I suppose “ensuring all building code issues are addressed” includes doing work without a permit on a Sunday?
New York Shitty analysis: they ain’t doing pointing.
You can view this, the latest advertisement for the “lofts” at 239 Banker Street on Craigslist by clicking here.*
*A casual search of this phone number netted this gem:
Alas this apartment is no longer available. I have little doubt the availability of “bras” is to blame. In closing, here are a few screencaps of advertisements from StreetEasy for 239 Banker Street for your viewing pleasure:
Quicklinks: 239 Banker Street Sold?
If Brownstoner and Curbed are to be believed, this is the case. Per the latter:
The latest development at perpetual Greenpoint headscratcher the Sweater Factory Lofts has us, if possible, even more puzzled. The building just changed hands for $9.1 million, according to a deed that hit public record this morning. The buyer is an LLC, so we don’t know anything about who has plans for this building or what those plans might be. But the building’s long and slightly sordid history means our mind is slightly boggled by that sale price.
Brownstoner notes that the LLC in question is “JL Take Two LLC” and goes on to add it is unclear whether or not the new owner is a developer. In regards to this a commenter on Curbed tenders an interesting analysis:
Read the court case Lebedowicz v Meserole Factory LLC. JL had a mezz loan on the property above the $8m first mortgage. Probably either just got foreclosure or deed in lieu. Mezz lender foreclosure would explain the low price on the deed. It wasnt an arms length sale.
This keeps getting more and more interesting folks…
UPDATE: Here’s some more analysis from someone “in the know”!
You no doubt saw that this sold – if you haven’t already, you’ll want to spend your morning on ACRIS: http://a836-acris.nyc.gov/Scripts/DocSearch.dll/BBLResult (block 2593, lot 1)
I don’t have time to get into too much detail, but the transactions there are interesting.
JL Take Two is owned by Jerry and Lucy Lebedowicz, and they bought the property for $9.1 million from Meserole Factory LLC (the only name I could find was Israel Perlmutter, but I’m not sure if he is associated with the seller). Jerry & Lucy appear to hold the mezzanine debt on the property, which $3.5 million and dates to November 2005.
Separate from the sale, there is a four-year lease from Jerry and Lucy to Northside Lofts, LLC (390 Berry Street, Joseph Brunner is the manager of the LLC). Northside Lofts seems to have an option to purchase, but I can’t see any details.
Separately, an entity named Lex Debt LLC has a four-year option to purchase the property from Jerry and Lucy. That option is for $9.679 million if it is exercised today, and there is an escalator clause of $22k per month for the first 36 months and $42.5k per month for the last 12 months. So if they wait until the end of the option period, the price goes up by $1.3 million. The only name I can find associated with Lex Debt LLC is Israel Worch (not sure the spelling of the last name, it was scrawled). The address for Lex is a PO box in 11230 zip code.
So – Jerry and Lucy of Flushing hold a big chunk of debt on the building, and now they own the building outright. But Northside Lofts is the tenant of the whole thing, and a third party has an option to buy the property, with incentives to buy sooner rather than later.
I think I have that all correct…
Curbed: Someone Just Bought Greenpoint’s Sweater Factory Lofts
Brownstoner: Greenpoint’s Sweater Factory Lofts on Banker St Sells
Greenpoint Photos du Jour: Live From 239 Banker Street!
After sharing the good news about some unhappy citizen scrawling commentary about 239 Banker Street on 239 Banker Street (as seen again above) at 9:52 this morning I decided to swing by and see the Greenpoint glory for myself. But alas as of 11:30 a.m. it was gone!
Looks like Meserole Factory LLC Googled 239 Banker.
In any case, they were thoughtful enough to station a worker whose sole purpose was to make sure the residents of this building used the second entrance. It brings a tear to my eye to see the owners of this property demonstrate such concern for the safety of their tenants!
UPDATE, 2:30 p.m
Note to self: when endeavoring to conceal an offending piece of graffiti with water-based paint and hosing-down the exterior of your building (presumably with water), it might be advisable to do the latter first. Whoops.
Spotted At 239 Banker Street: Direct Action
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Street Justice
This item comes via an anonymous tipster who notes:
Someone irked at 239 Banker took action last night…
Coming to 239 Banker Street: The Loft Law?
That’s right folks! It would appear this month someone has filed for protection under the Loft Law! Given the amended law states three or more families must have lived independently from one another for 12 consecutive months from 1/1/08 through 12/21/09— and 239 Banker Street (which started showing signs of habitation May 31, 2009) was vacated by the Department of Buildings on September 24, 2009:
Do the math.
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