According to the New York Post — not the most reliable source — ConEd is using dirty tricks to evict the Park 51 developer from its section of the old Burlington Coat Factory in lower Manhattan.
The old coat factory occupied what is actually two different properties. Park 51 owns one property and ConEd the other part. The Park 51 developers have been renting ConEd’s part and wants to buy it, and then knock the structures on both properties down to build their Islamic community center. Here’s what the Post says —
But the plan hit a major obstacle in August when Con Ed raised the rent from $2,750 a month, a rate set in 1972, to $47,437 a month, retroactive to July 31, 2008, The Post has learned.
They can do that? They must have found one mother of a loophole in the rental agreement.
When the mosque failed to fork over the $1.7 million, the utility fired off a letter demanding the money by Oct. 4 and threatening to evict.
Park51 principals responded with a lawsuit to stop the increase, calling Con Ed’s rent demands “outrageous.â€
That’s just wrong. Somebody got to somebody.
The rented section is the area being used for prayers. The other part is being used for community events, such as a recent photography exhibit.
Yeah, sounds like somebody got to somebody else.
And I’m sure the NY Post is gloating over it.
God, what a hidious rag! I stopped buying it because it’s not fit to wrap a dead fish in – it’s an insult to the intelligence of the poor deceased fish.
Btw, maha, all of our landlords called while we were out.
They raised our rent to $47,000 a month retroactive back to right after Obama got elected, so they want a money-order for $1.5 million from each of us pronto. No checks, for obvious reasons.
This can’t possibly stand up. Not even in Bloomberg’s NY.
Don’t read the comments on the Post piece. They’ll make you want to vomit.
Looking at the comments, it is a wonder these people remember to breathe.
Sad state of affairs for the US right now. I never thought I ‘d agree with a Republican, but the country IS going to hell (and they have the handbasket consignment).
Boy, I bet every landlord in the country wants to know how to pull off a doozy like this one.
I find myself wondering if this is true. Something feels wrong, but I have some trouble accepting religious bigotry. If hate for Islam on the part of an executive with ConEd is the cause- maybe its true. If so, how might ConEd be pressured – by the city government – civil suit – federal criminal suit (If the rent hike is based in religious discrimination, is it a federal crime?)