"I live in an historical property - the Herman Schleicher Mansion/Grand View Hotel - built in 1853 and landmarked in 1997 - located at 11-41 123rd Street, College Point. I need your assistance in bringing the media's attention to what is going on with this property.
We have vacated the property since an electrical fire on July 9th, 2008.
The owner has over 80 violations which include the electrical violations that were never repaired and caused all the families (seven) to be vacated from the mansion. Two of the units were illegal units and we also found out that one complaint mentioned that a tenant died in 1997 as a result of an electrical fire." - anonymous
Sorry to inform you that you were Queensmarked, not landmarked. Your absentee landlord in Florida, who has racked up tens of thousands of dollars in fines, probably would not have gone for landmarking considering how the building has been kept up over the years. The house has no protection at all. Bulldozers may be on their way.* I'll keep your contact numbers in case any reporters want to do a story on this.
17 comments:
HA!
"Queensmarked" instead of truly landmarked by the LPC...eh?
More proof that receiving a
Queens Hysterical Society's
"Queensmark" is more likely
to be a death mark!
Wasn't long gone historic "Flessels" the proud recipient of a such a "Queensmark"?
H-m-m-m,
QHS' limp-wristed efforts in the form of awarding a bronze plaque to the grand View Hotel may soon become a grave marker (probably already removed for its melt value)!
Fire (by arson or neglect), once called "Jewish lightning",
was often employed by greedy absentee landlords.
Don't think that was the case here, as the property is circular and would not allow for the same number or more units as this was carved into.
Regarding the two illegal units, I heard the tenants can sue to get their rent back. It's not legal to collect money for an illegal apartment so the landlord owes the tenant the money, all of it.
Oh, it gets complicated when it comes to that. If the landlord has permission for more than 2 legal units, then only those living in those units can get their money back, and only if they can prove they didn't know the apartment was illegal. Stupid? Yes. Penalizing for slumlord? No.
Oh course Queensmarks, like so many officially hallowed institutions in Queens, is a joke.
But this is Queens, where empty image trumps real content any day of the week.
Now on to watching the dragon boat races.
I grew up in College Point (I’m in Ozone Park now) and always made it a point (no pun intended) to get back there at least once a year to have a look around and reminisce. After a visit last October with my sister, I decided that I would put an end to these trips as there is so little left there from what I remember.
When the Grand View is lost, it’ll be yet another nail in College Point’s – and Queens’ – coffin.
Laws regarding the payment of rent in illegal apartments are complicated. Comments here with respect to tenants getting rent payments refunded are not correct. No one should rely on these comments. Instead consult an experienced housing attorney
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I am good friends with one of the tenants affected by this slumlord. My friend has invested great amount of time and money in making this place a lovely home for herself and her family. It is a shame and a disgrace to have hard working people displaced from their homes. These tenants have been paying their rent and believe me it was a hefty amount. The Mansion its a lovely place.... unfortunatly it has been poorly managed. This Slumlord will have to answer for her negligence.
I attended St. Agnes Academic HS from 1974 to 1978, located on the block of this magnificent house. This wonderful house has always intrigued me and I always imagined what it was like for the guests who stayed there back when it was the Grand View Hotel. The grounds must have been beautiful.
Every time I visit College Point, I drive around the house and past St. Agnes because it brings back so many good memories.
After reading everyone's comments on what is currently going on with this house,it is really disturbing to me that the current owner has such disregard for all her tenants who are paying their rent, taking care of their apartments and enjoy living in this wonderful part of College Point history. Save this Landmark and don't let this house be destroyed.
I would like to say''Thank you'' to all the positive comment's left on this site,concerning what i consider to be ''my home''yes, i have seen many a person drive by in awe.Thank you's go out to those who feel this Mansion should be safed!!There is a petition you can sign,so that this beautiful Mansion can get to be a N.Y.C. Landmark,Anyone who wants to help our cause can go to ''The Poppenhusen Institute'' and sign,Please let's not lose this Historical Mansion.God Bless&Many thank's to all the positive comment's received for my home!!
Having lived at this property while a teenager in the 1980's, in one of the basements 3 apartments, I can tell you then that this property though historic in nature has no historical value. The apartments had horrible electric, not to mention a severe bug problem. The landlord was still living on the first floor at the time and never made any attempts to repair anything. She had exits locked so that only one exit in the basement was accessible and who knows what was in the subbasement.
In response to this last comment,It does have historical value..It was the ''FAMOUS GRAND VIEW HOTEL''...It is ''legend'' to be that it was used as a passage way,''underground tunnel''for slaves&also the Basement has two holding cells,which prisoners were transported underground to ''The Poppenhusen Institute cells....and in Depression times liquor was past from the under ground basement....The man who had the Mansion built,ran guns to the confederates...That sounds ''Historical'' to me...
i am so glad someone from the ''80's knows about the electric..i wish you would go to court on Monday with us...the witch will be there...it goes to show that she was always a ''Slumlord'' EVEN THAT FAR BACK....THANK YOU...
Thank you''Councilman Tony Avella for all the help you have given us!!!Tony for Mayor!!!
This House has protection now!!Thank you ''Councilman Mr.Tony Avella'' for giving us support in our fight!!We are ''Calendared''!hooray!!This Mansion will stand¬ be torn down!!SO SORRY T.H.GUESS WE RUINED YOUR PLANS!!GOD DON'T LIKE UGLY!!EVER HEARD THAT SAYING''
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