The Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) is holding another hearing today regarding 515 E. Fifth St., where the years-long saga over an illegal rooftop addition continues.
A quickie recap: The BSA had previously ruled in 2008 that landlord Ben Shaoul needs to remove the 6th and 7th floors. However, his attorneys had requested that the city grant a zoning variance to "permit the constructed enlargement, minus the penthouse, to remain" here between Avenue A and Avenue B.
Meanwhile, ahead of today's hearing, we hear that Shaoul has moved to evict one member of the Tenants Association of 515 East Fifth Street, and has offered to discuss a buyout with two of the others.
Finally, one of the contested units arrived for rent on Streeteasy last week. Per the listing:
BEAUTIFUL EAST VILLAGE DUPLEX 1 BEDROOM WITH PRIVATE TERRACE
BRAND NEW LISTING - AMAZING EAST VILLAGE LOCATION
Brand New Listing available for SEPT 1 - Move In! 1 Bedroom. Amazing Deal. This Apartment will not last!
True, the apartment will not last if the BSA grants the zoning variance … because the penthouse will need to be removed as part of the zoning variance deal.
It looks pretty nice, though…
The one-bedroom apartment is asking $3,195.
Anyway, this story promises to not end anytime soon. The extra floors were added in 2006.
You can read more about the history here at the Post, Curbed, DNAinfo and The Villager.
Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] 5 years later, another BSA hearing on illegal rooftop addition at 515 E. Fifth St.
Protest at 515 E. Fifth St. this morning, site of Ben Shaoul's illegal addition
The disappearing illegal penthouse of 514-516 E. 6th St.
Never-ending battle wages on over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St.
Never-ending battle over additional floors at 515 E. Fifth St. promises to keep being never-ending
CB3 not into Ben Shaoul's zoning variance for 515 E. 5th St.
4 comments:
Even though they were told to remove the addition on E 6th S (btw Ave A and B), there's barely any work being done there - the sidewalk shed and dumpster have been there for months now and nothing is happening. Seems like the ass is pretending to be removing it without actually doing it. Does anyone know if he's still renting out the illegal apartment on E 6th St?
cheap!
That the city apparently has no power to get the illegal addition removed speaks volumes to the powerlessness of the people
Can't Rosie do something about this - seems ludicrous that nothing can be done here.
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