Corona AirBnB flophouse shut down

From the Daily News:

The city has shuttered a Queens flophouse that operated as an illegal hotel listed on the Airbnb site — even offering travelers a $21-per-night stay in backyard tents.

The Corona home at 98-13 Northern Blvd. was one of two hit with a partial vacate order last month after officials deemed them “imminently perilous to life (and) public safety.”

“There is about 40 people on the two floors,” a caller reported to the city last October.

“The backyard has air beds under tents, also.”

When investigators from the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement showed up on Feb. 21, they found 27 mattresses crammed into two floors, four guests and one permanent resident.

The two-family property was illegally converted to seven furnished bedrooms where transient guests lived alongside one permanent resident, officials said.

Manhattan landlord fined for illegal hotel

From the Daily News:

The city has slapped an Upper West Side landlord with the first $5,000 fines under a new law passed to crack down on illegal hotels.

Hank Fried was whacked with a dozen fines totaling $60,000 for advertising rooms in the Marrakech Hotel on Broadway near 103rd St., which the city says is operating illegally in what is supposed to be a single-room-occupancy and apartment building.

A state law signed last fall prohibited the advertising of illegal units — ones that violate a prior law barring the renting of entire apartments for less than 30 days.

The law was pushed as a way to go after illegal listings on the home sharing site Airbnb. But Fried is not a host on that site, and instead advertised his units on Hotwire.com, Booking.com and other websites, city officials say.

Illegal hotel owner gets off easy

From Crains:

The owner of a Midtown apartment building that for years has been dogged with lawsuits has agreed to settle millions of dollars' worth of outstanding violations for $375,000 and bring the property up to snuff, according to federal bankruptcy court documents.

Ben Zion Suky was one of several owners of 440 W. 41st St. and for years rented apartments for less than 30 days in violation of city code, according to City Hall. In 2015 the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement filed a lawsuit seeking to shut down the illegal inn and collect damages. Before it was resolved, however, Suky sold the 96-unit building to a company controlled by David Goldwasser, who then filed for bankruptcy protection.

The city argued that Goldwasser was responsible for the outstanding violations and penalties, which totaled more than $2 million, according to the documents. Now the two sides have agreed to settle the suit for $375,000 on the condition that Goldwasser bring the property up to code and cease all illegal hotel operations.

"Ridgewood" AirBnB listing is a lot of bunk

So, "Ridgewood Mod Housing" which doesn't appear to be located in Ridgewood, is renting out 6 BUNK BEDS on AirBnB. But this sharing service is just for widows trying to keep up the payments on their homes, and other sob stories.

Factory operated as hotel vacated

From the Daily News:

The city raided an apartment in hipster Brooklyn last week that had been operating as an illegal hotel through Airbnb and other websites, sending several unlucky out-of-towners scrambling for places to stay.

The Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement — which just had its budget nearly doubled in order to crack down on illegal hotels — busted 210 Cook St. in East Williamsburg on Tuesday after receiving complaints about it through 311.

Inspectors found a brightly colored loft space — complete with wall murals, Ikea-style furniture and tons of potted plants — that had been converted into an eight-room hotel.

Guests would punch a code into a keypad at the door to get into the space, which was divided into cubbyholes marked 1 through 8.

Rates started at $31 a night on Airbnb, where it had a 4.5-star rating.

Visitors shared one of two bathrooms, had access to a kitchen and received free Wi-Fi, according to the listing on Airbnb.

It's amazing the lengths that the city will go to in order to keep tourists safe, but doesn't care much about illegal conversion of permanent residences.

Savvy squatter rents out pad on AirBnB

From the NY Post:

First she got herself adopted by a dying old man to hang onto his rent-controlled flat — and now she’s turned it into a hotel.

Maria DeTommaso not only refuses to vacate the two-bedroom apartment in Long Island City, Queens — for which she has no lease — but she’s advertising for paying guests through Airbnb.

“She can’t rent rooms. This is not a rooming house,” said Sugrim Outar, the landlord who has been fighting to evict DeTommaso since her adoptive dad, Nicholas DeTommaso, died in 2009.

Maria DeTommaso was 58 when she was adopted weeks before the death of Nicholas, a senile 85-year-old who paid $100 a month as the legal occupant.

The state ruled in 2013 that she was not entitled to the rent-controlled apartment, but she has fought to keep it.

This is what AirBnB allows "regular New Yorkers" to do!

Dear Crappy,

Every so often I peruse the Airbnb listings hereabouts (Greenpoint) so as to get an idea of how much property (and money) is at stake. Among the usual stuff/suspects I found a real stand-out. This:


As you can imagine I found this quite interesting. I clicked--- and this is what I found:



Hence why I am emailing you. It would appear this "tenement on wheels" (sort of like this and this) gets around. I am guessing this is why this "vacation rental" purports to be less than 10 minutes from 50 major attractions. You can drive your "hotel room" right up to them.




Any/all takers should advised that one of the amenities offered is brand new carpet! READ: a $19.99 rug from IKEA. So keep your filthy-ass shoes outside, okay?

Please take the time to peruse the reviews. They're not simply illuminating; they're quite entertaining! Here are two of my personal favorites!



Inasmuch as I can guess the latter satisfied customers--- provided they were in Greenpoint--- had to be near either the American Playground or Barge Park (AKA "Greenpoint") Playground. These are the only parks hereabouts which sport bathrooms. What a wonderful use of our precious little public space! I hope against hope that William and his girlfriend did not flush those baby wipes down the toilet. But let's face facts. They probably did.

Of course there are also waterfront parks with East River views in Queens which sport bathrooms. You would know these better than I. In any case, I wanted to bring this "tip" to your attention. It would appear "Jonathan" has other listings. I'll leave those for you to parse and/or enjoy!

Sincerely,

New York Shitty

Link to listing: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6492663?s=h4yk

Anti-hotel rally in Broadway-Flushing

I'm sure you remember the monstrosity from this post a week ago. The owner denies that it will be a hotel.

Original home, circa 1926. The John J. Halleran residence.

Broadway-Flushing's nightmare hotel

Today's Broadway-Flushing disaster comes courtesy of 35-20 156 Street. This one is an alteration to make a 1-family house into an illegal hotel. It will take you hours to read through all the permit applications and violations.

Here's what the place looked like back in 2007. The complaints go back to 1989.

Illegal hostel advertises on the subway

These were pasted all over a subway car I was on yesterday. Who needs AirBnB when you have the MTA?

Landlord tries to get illegal hostel shut down

From the Daily News:

An East Harlem landlord is taking steps to shutter an illegal hostel that has been operating in the Lexington Ave. building since the summer, the Daily News has learned.

A three-bedroom apartment in the building at E. 122nd St. is being rented out on booking.com, where guests are invited to stay in apartment 6G at a nightly rate of $199 per bed this holiday season.

Most galling, perhaps, is the fact that this unit is enrolled in a federal program that keeps rents affordable for low-income residents. The apartment in question rents for $1,017 per month — almost $2,000 per month less than the unit would fetch at market rate.

That means the tenant is making a killing — on the taxpayers’ dime.

22 beds in a downtown apartment

From WPIX:

A man is renting out an East Side apartment for “young professionals” for $900. 22 to be exact.

In a video uploaded to YouTube, you’re given a tour of what looks like a cramped dwelling.

It’s a two-bedroom apartment with 22 beds.

The man claims to have plenty of storage space (perhaps under the beds?) and tells how the apartment is walking distance from the subway trains.

He doesn’t mention the word hostel, but a city spokesman says they are investigating this place as a possible illegal hostel.

Mansion rented out as illegal hotel and concert hall; DOB sees nothing

For some really strange reason, the following landed in my inbox last week:

from: newyork.undiscovered.talent
to: queenscrapper@gmail.com
date: Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 2:48 PM
subject: Attn: New York Musician/Singer perform in New York's biggest mansion!

My company is partnering with a large New York Real-estate developer who owns New York's largest mansion it is a 10 million dollar estate! His vision is to rent out this mansion for music events. Here is a link to the location http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p298342. Our company organizes large scale showcases where local musicians/singers can perform in this mansion. We offer musicians/singers 3 major benefits:

*The opportunity to perform in New York's largest mansion a 10 million dollar estate! The developer we are working with also owns other estates through out New York and nationwide as well. You will have the opportunity to perform at all of these multi million dollar estates. Why is this important? When a music industry executive sees you perform in a crummy bar with few people in the audience they will not take you seriously no matter how talented you are. Music is a business and every time you perform you are advertising your brand. The question is do you want to advertise your brand in a crummy bar with no one there or a 10 million dollar mansion with a sold out crowd? As we grow we are also interested in renting out famous concert halls, broadway theaters etc. in New York and you will also have the chance to perform there as well.

*We will always have a guaranteed large audience because we invite so many people to attend our events such as other local performers, business sponsors, press, music industry executives and other guests. This is an amazing networking opportunity to meet many important people in the music industry and promote your music in a large way! You can even sell your CD's live at the event!

*It is not required but If you have an entrepreneur business mind we also have a way for you to make a large monthly income just to refer other musicians/singers into our network. You do not need to know a lot of musicians/singers we will show you how easy it is to find musicians/singers online. You do not have to sell anyone or even talk to anyone we do all of that for you. You will make money every month just to generate leads for our network, it is that simple. If you see the big picture of our network you will realize there is no other opportunity for local musicians/singers out there like this and our network can grow very big and you can benefit big time!

To join our network there is a small fee of $30 per month but there is no contracts. You can participate for 1 month or every month the choice is yours. I understand many musicians/singers do not want to pay to play but this is a different situation. This is a 10 million dollar mansion we are talking about with a guaranteed packed audience, this is worth a small $30. You will even enjoy wine and chef prepared hors d'oeuvres as well.

No money is due right now if you are interested all you have to do is reply to this email with "Reserve a spot for me". We need your name, cell phone number or home number and your email to reserve a spot. We will email you a link to the location for your review. Once we have all of the acts and sponsors lined up we will meet in Manhattan to answer all of your questions, discuss dates and at that point the $30 will be due. Our goal is to book the mansion for mid November before thanksgiving.

As this sounds like quite a ridiculous scam, I decided it was worth looking into. I tracked down the address of this property - 283 Nugent Street in Staten Island. There have been multiple complaints about this property dating back to 2011.

11/10/2011 ILLEGAL CONVERSION A PRIVATE HOME INTO A HOUSE OF WORSHIP ALL DAY. AS PER CALLER TOO MANY PEOPLE. TOO MANY CARS BLOCK THE STREET.
11/22/2011 NO VIOLATION WARRANTED FOR COMPLAINT AT TIME OF INSPECTION. NO EVIDENCE OF HOME BEING USED AS A HOUSE OF WORSHIP. NO VEHICLES ON PREMISES. NO VIO WARRANTED

11/14/2011 CLR STS THE ONE FAMILY PD AT ABOVE ADDRESS IS BEING ADVERTISED AS A VACATION HOME WITH DAILY, AND WEEKLY RATES WITH MAID SERVICE
11/22/2011 NO VIOLATION WARRANTED FOR COMPLAINT AT TIME OF INSPECTION. NO EVIDENCE OF SIGNS OF HOME BEING ADVERTISED FOR BUSINESS NO VIO WARRANTED

05/10/2012 THEY ARE RENTING OUT THE SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE AS IF THIS IS A HOTEL
05/14/2012 COMPLAINT UNSUBSTANTIATED BASED ON DEPARTMENT RECORDS. DUPLICATE COMPLAINT#5097732 FILED

05/10/2012 THE HOME IS BEING RENTED OUT ON A SHORT TERM BASIS, EVERY WEEKEND AND A WEEK AT A TIME. IT IS ADVERTSED ONLINE HOTPADS.COM/VACATION-RENTALS/283-NUGENT-STREET-STATEN-ISLAND-NY-10306
05/14/2012 COMPLAINT UNSUBSTANTIATED BASED ON DEPARTMENT RECORDS. DUPLICATE COMPLAINT#5097732 FILED

05/11/2012 ILLEGAL CONVERSION OF ONE FAMILY DWELLING BEING RENTED AS HOTEL LESS THAN 3 STORIES
06/25/2012 INSPECTOR UNABLE TO GAIN ACCESS - 2ND ATTEMPT. NO ACCESS. LS-4 POSTED

12/21/2012 1 FAM HOUSE IS BEING RENTED OUT FOR PARTIES FOR A FEW DAYS AT A TIME FROM $7,500. THEY HAVE DAILY & WEEKLY RATES. THEY ADVERTISE ON LINE AS WELL. PLS INVESTIGATE
04/23/2013 INSPECTOR UNABLE TO GAIN ACCESS - 2ND ATTEMPT. RANG BELL NO ONE HOME NO ACCESS LS4 POSTED

03/22/2013 ILLEGAL CONVERSION
05/30/2013 INSPECTOR UNABLE TO GAIN ACCESS - 2ND ATTEMPT. COULD NOT GAIN ACCESS INTO BUILDING LS4 POSTED

04/10/2013 SINGLE FAMILY HOME BEING RENTED OUT AS A HOTEL ON RANDOM WEEKENDS,THEY ALSO RENT THE PROPERTY OUT FOR EVENTS LIKE PARTIES,BABYSHOWERS ETC... AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH,THEY ARE GETTING READY FOR AN EVENT.
04/10/2013 ADMINISTRATIVE CLOSURE. PENDING DUPLICATE COMPLAINTS REFER TO #S 5101659/5103104

05/07/2013 ILLEGAL COMMERCIAL/MANUFACTURING USE IN RESIDENTIAL ZONE
07/30/2013 INSPECTOR UNABLE TO GAIN ACCESS - 2ND ATTEMPT. NO ACCESS LS4 POSTED

10/19/2013 ILLEGAL RECORDING & VIDEO BUSN VIOLATING ZONING LAWS; COMMERCIAL TRUCKS PARKED IN FRONT
(Still open.)

I forwarded the information over to my "anonymous Staten Island crapcatcher", as said individual prefers to be called. Here's what was uncovered thus far:

"I see a 2 million adjustable rate mortgage in 2007, with another 400,000 at the same time at 13 1/2% with Lopa as the borrower and obligated to occupy the property as primary residence... His mommy co-signed. OOOH- trained by NYS SBDC; he and his brother wanted to become real estate operators, and were taught how to locate funding...classic crap. Brother, btw, operates a "contracting" business, in that he pushes his "designs" but is not licensed to design structures - i.e. neither an architect nor an engineer. He uses the "Dora the Explorer" CAD program... I'm sure there's more: dig deep enough, he's related to Vallone, I'll betcha."

- Your anonymous Staten Island crap-catcher

(Note how individual's father worked for the city...)

This house is currently in Council Member and Borough President-elect James Oddo's district. I'm sure he'll be on this like white on rice.

Illegal hotel and illegal cigarettes

From Queens Courier:

The investigation of an illegal cigarette trafficking operation led to the arrest of a Flushing family that was allegedly running an illegal hotel out of the home next door.

During the investigation of allegations of illegal cigarettes being sold out of a Saull Street residence, detectives noticed unusual activity going on at the two-family house next door, according to District Attorney Richard Brown. Multiple people were observed leaving the home with suitcases, and after further investigation, officials discovered that the residence was being advertised as a hotel on Chinese language websites.

Following a year-long investigation, a search warrant was executed on the home Thursday and Qiumin He, 55, his wife, Chun Y Tu, 56, and their son, Xiaoshan He, 34, who all live at the home, were arrested. They are currently awaiting arraignment and have been charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, according to Brown. Xiaoshan has also been charged with second-degree obstructing governmental administration for allegedly interfering with the arrests. They face up to one year in jail if convicted.

During yesterday’s search of the alleged illegal hotel, Department of Buildings inspectors were present as well as inspectors assigned to the New York City Fire Department, who found “numerous egregious violations, including insufficient egress and lack of required sprinkler systems and fire alarms and no exit signs,” said Brown. DOB inspectors had tried to enter the home several times over the last year, but weren’t allowed inside.

AirBnB listing deemed legal

From DNA Info:

East Village renters using AirBnB, the apartment-sharing website popular worldwide, did not violate city hotel regulations, an administrative law panel ruled Thursday.

The case involving a tenant who sublet his room in a two-bedroom apartment on East Second Street last September, was widely seen as a test case in the city for the relatively new form of apartment sharing.

The decision reverses an earlier ruling that found Abe Carrey, the owner of the apartment, was in conflict with the city code governing transient hotels because his tenant rented out his room to a Russian tourist for three nights using the online site.

The Department of Buildings originally fined Carrey $40,000 for breaking the hotel regulations, as well as series of safety violations required for a licensed transient hotel. At the time of Thursday's decision only a $2,400 fine remained, which was nullified by the ruling.

Couple renting out rent stabilized apartment as hotel

From WPIX:

When something intended to be helpful ends up being overused or abused, it’s called adverse selection in professional parlance. The way in which a couple has used New York City’s rent stabilization program gives adverse selection a whole new meaning, according to their landlord, and that meaning is unbelievably negative. The couple is accused of using their rent stabilized apartment as a hotel room or bed and breakfast, and reaping six-figure, untaxed profits as a result.

“I think this is for her a business,” said Ken Podziba, referring to his tenant, Amy Parness. Podziba, along with his sister, Susan, own 250 Elizabeth Street, an eight-apartment rental building. It’s nestled among designer boutiques where shopping is by appointment only, and very hip cafes and restaurants in one of the city’s hottest neighborhoods. It’s an ideal location for a widely sought-after bed and breakfast.

The problem is, according to Podziba, Parness has been running the b-and-b out of his apartment, which she’s supposed to be renting at a rate intended to promote affordable housing. ”And she’s not paying the IRS,” Podziba told PIX11 News, “so she’s profiting 100 percent.”

For the last 12 years, Podziba said, Parness has rented an apartment on the third floor of his building. For at least the last four years of that period, she has listed the apartment as the NoLita Nest on airbanb and other bed and breakfast listing websites.

Online, the apartment is displayed as a home away from home for tourists, who pay anywhere from $220 to $260 or more per night for the one bedroom, one bath railroad apartment.

The landlords were able to confirm their suspicions about their tenant’s activities when they learned that Parness was having unlicensed contracting work done to the apartment. A climb up the stairs to the floor where she’s renting reveals a notable absence on one of the walls. Where an entry doorway had been for over a century, there is now only a wall, and at the other end of the third floor landing, where there had once been only a wall, there’s now a deep green wooden door. The door contrasts sharply with all of the black, metal fire code-compliant doors in the five-storey walkup.

PIX11 News knocked on the green, wooden door, and a woman answered, without opening. Her description of herself was consistent with that provided by Podziba. Her boyfriend is renting the apartment for the summer, she said.

They’re paying $4000 per month, according to the landlord. Parness is renting from him for $1400 per month. So when the apartment is not being used as a bed and breakfast apartment, Parness is renting it out at a nearly 300 percent profit.

Hurricane collapse happened at illegal hotel

From the Daily News:

A building that crumbled onto a Manhattan sidewalk as Hurricane Sandy bore down on the city was an illegal hotel full of European tourists, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn charges.

In a letter sent to the Buildings Department this week, Quinn asks for a full inspection of the building and demands that the property return to residential use.

“As someone who was on site during the vacate process I can attest to the fact that the users of the buildings were transient guests and not permanent residents,” the mayoral wannabe wrote.

Quinn and other Council members have railed for years about the proliferation of illegal hotels. Landlords make a fortune renting out rooms on a nightly basis that are supposed to rent by the month.

The city loses hotel tax income and neighbors have to deal with a revolving door of transients. Some landlords also create fire hazards by illegally partitioning rooms to make more money.

The illegal rooms at 92 8th Ave. were even advertised through a website called Vrotels.com, which specializes in renting furnished rooms for short-term stays, Quinn wrote.

Quinn’s letter asks Building Commissioner Robert LiMandri to conduct “an extensive audit” of all construction plans and a review of current conditions. Buildings Department spokesman Tony Sclafani said the city will keep careful watch.

City inspectors hit the building with violations on multiple occasions from 2011 to 2012 for work without a permit and for blocking an exit, records show. The property owner currently owes $30,800 in penalties.