[Photo via the No 7-Eleven Blog]
As previously reported, workers installed several AC and refrigeration units adjacent to the incoming 7-Eleven at 500 E. 11th St. last September ... placed inches away from the bedroom windows of tenants. The No 7-Eleven Blog noted last week that landlord Westminster Management has racked up $17,000-plus in fines for the illegally placed units at 500 E. 11th St.
While no one appears to be much in a hurry to do anything about these AC units… life continues to be miserable for some surrounding tenants. The No 7-Eleven Blog heard firsthand from tenants for a post yesterday:
The illegal refrigeration unit is placed on the one story roof between 500 and 502 East 11th St. immediately outside of the bedrooms of four separate, second floor apartments (two in each building). This unit significantly violates the noise pollution laws (twice cited by the DEP). The noise and vibrations that this unit emits have resulted in tenants in 502 East 11th St. to abandon their bedrooms and re-position their entire family in the living room. The noise is constantly grinding, clicking, and vibrating making it unbearable for ALL the tenants on all the floors between the two buildings — one of whom is a freelance film editor who is now unable to work at home.
According to the blog, the tenants will request another noise reading next month … with a court date possible in the future.
Previously on EV Grieve:
3 new AC units at incoming 7-Eleven prompts Partial Stop Work Order
A WHOOSHING AC unit update: 'We are roundly being ignored by 7-Eleven and Westminster NYC'
19 comments:
The tenants in 502 East 11th St. have reached out to both Westminster and representatives for 7-Eleven on many, many occasions. The former ignored the complaints after an air conditioning unit engineer, while investigating the matter as a "favor" to Trump (yes, seriously), said, "This is a battle you can't win," to an inquiring tenant. The PR rep for 7-Eleven, on the other hand, was, at first, somewhat sympathetic and promised to "look into" the matter. Said PR rep no loner responds to queries. Why is 7-Eleven and Westminster so intent on making life here so miserable? What do they have to gain? There is a simple solution: Relocate the gigantic air conditioning units to the roof of 500 East 11th St. and the ridiculously loud refrigeration unit to the basement. Problem solved. People sleep. Neighborhood a little happier.
Cut the power cable
No help from Assemblymembers Rosie Mendez, Brian Kavanagh or CB3?
Heard quality of life advocate from GrowNYC on WNYC this week who works with noise issues. Very pro-tenant. Contact: info@grownyc.org
We reached out to Rosie Mendez several times and heard back nothing. As of yesterday, Brad Hoylman's office is looking into the matter.
My first thought was to find the power cord and simply remove it. I wonder if they're ignoring the fines and waiting for a tenant to vandalize the fridge unit, thus giving them some footing in a court case. Interesting strategy, the theory of which I've based on absolutely nothing.
Rosie Mendez only helps out when it benefits her financially.
And don't try CB3 or Stetzer and Co. for help either, they too only help out when it benefits them financially.
Forgot about Hoylman. Hope there is action and good results. So much is stacked against tenants.
Why is the city dragging its feet on this? Do you tenants in 502 East 11th St. have an attorney? NYC's Urban Justice Center have helped us out in the past. They work pro bono on landlord tenant disputes.
Hoylman should be able to help you navigate city bureaucracy.
This whole thing illustrates how 7-Eleven says one thing but does the other. If they really cared about making a good impression or helping the neighborhood or whatever their canned press statements say, they would have taken care of this 3 months ago and not let it drag out through various city agencies and now into court.
Ya have to hire a lawyer and file a suit. It's the only language they understand, and it's the way their corporate process is structured. They don't do things to be nice, they do things to make money, so until it looks like you're gonna cost them money there is no incentive to act. I'd start at $20 mil.
The arrogance of 7-11 and Westminster (Trump's nephew? Son-in-law?) clearly indicates that they do not give a flying FUCK about the tenants or the community into which they have interloped.
Very short-sited and fool-hearty of 7-11 to move into a hostile environment where they are UNWANTED and then step on the feet of those whose hearts and minds they ought to be trying to win over, eh?
I wonder WHICH of them is absorbing the compounding city fines. Is that a tax write-off?
I can see where some Street Justice would be justified at this point....
how about a few cinder blocks off the the roof???
@ chris flash
I think I recall reading that the landlord and 7-11 are fighting (in court?) over who's responsible for moving the ac unit.
They are fighting, just not in court. Yet.
Ken, initially 7-Eleven was requiring Westminster to rectify the problems. They are not, however, working on a deal any more. I'm unsure why they dropped the issue... but they did. And I appreciate all the ideas of ways to destroy these machines; but they'll know who did it...
Call Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough President. Call Public Advocate Tish James.
This certainly looks like they are using the units to clear the buildings of longtime tennants. The gain in rent profit is much greater than the fine losses.
Short term storefront businesses that have illegally too loud noisy vents, shaking duct fans, fires, etc, that drive out tennants in order to flip the properties seems to be lawlessly allowed by complicancy in city agencies. I heard that the head of the main building agencies ran out of town in October. Well before the new administration could catch a handshake. Three top agencies heads did not stick around till December. Hoping clearly their names would fade from memory when the light of day rolls around on what has transpired on our city. Idiots.
First, if you havent done so yet, one of you needs to get over to housing court and file the claim against Westminster so you eat the balls rolling, as it can take a few weeks to get the case heard. It's around $30ish I can't remember exactly. You don't need a lawyer.
Second, every single day all of the tenants, either together or separately, should walk over to 12th street office and start yelling at them to fix it. Is only a block away and you can disrupt their rental business and get their attention. Don't give up, keep on going in there, in person, and demanding action.
Also, there is a DEP office on 12th bet A&B, middle of the block, north side, across from the garden in that hideous new building. Go there, chat them up, maybe they can issue more fines or follow up, or something.
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