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He’d been relying on space heaters until a court-ordered heater was recently installed, swatting away cockroaches, and dealing with a wash basin without running water. At least the noise and dust have subsided since a partial stop-work order took effect. That’s life in a nutshell for Eric Abrams, 64, the last remaining tenant in a single-room occupancy unit at 2651 Broadway at West 101st Street.
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In late 2021, Long Island-based real estate developer Klosed Properties acquired the building from Hank Freid for $15.5 million. Specializing in “underperforming assets and opportunistic investments,” according to its website, Klosed Properties has been attempting to relocate Abrams to move forward with renovations. When Abrams refused, the company decided to proceed with the renovations anyway.
Also known as 230 West 101st Street, the building has become the center of a legal and personal struggle for Abrams. His lawyer, Robin LoGuidice, described the situation as “the worst I’ve ever seen. And I’ve been doing this a long time,” in an interview with The New York Times, which first broke the story.
Abrams moved into the building, which has 52 units, 21 years ago through a city housing program. Now dealing with mobility challenges and hoarding tendencies, he can no longer use the building’s elevator, which has been taken out of service. In response, Klosed Properties installed a makeshift staircase specifically for Abrams. His rent of $2,015 per month was previously covered by a city program.
LoGuidice argues that shutting down the elevator constitutes harassment, as does locking up Abrams’ winter clothes and cleaning supplies, which he had stored in a closet. She also noted that fire safety systems were removed from the building. “It’s like something out of The Shining,” she said. “What happens if there’s a fire?”
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In court papers, LoGuidice described the makeshift stairs as “narrow, flimsy, and nonfireproof.” She contends that these actions were part of “another weapon in their arsenal designed to rid them of their elderly, disabled, and inconvenient tenant.” Klosed Properties countered in court, stating that the “conditions alleged are not dangerous to life, health, and safety.”
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Klosed contends that it has done everything possible to accommodate Abrams. Court documents detail a range of offers: a hotel room with a $15-a-day meal stipend; a makeshift one-bedroom unit on the ground floor of his current building; and several “objectively superior” one-bedroom units in a Manhattan Valley building owned by Klosed, where he would be allowed to live rent-free. Abrams has either rejected or failed to respond to all of these offers.
“We just want to get the work done,” said James Marino, a lawyer for Klosed Properties.
Three lawsuits have been filed against Abrams, including one seeking access to his unit to make repairs. Klosed has stated that Abrams could return to the unit after the upgrades, but they have also threatened to evict him if he does not grant access.
Meanwhile, Abrams has filed a lawsuit against Klosed. A former legal-aid lawyer representing him, Jonathan Saxton, wrote a letter to the court requesting to withdraw from the case and appoint a guardian for Abrams. In the letter, Saxton noted that Abrams “faces significant physical, mental, and emotional challenges which impair his cognitive abilities and decision-making processes.”
“The needed changes to accommodate his mobility issues would include an entrance from the bedroom to the bathroom with 36 inches of clearance, a curbless shower, grab bars, an automated apartment door, and a wheelchair ramp and automated doors at the building’s front entrance,” The New York Times reported.
A former catering chef, Abrams admits he has struggled with multiple addictions, suffered several small strokes, and continues to deal with the effects of long COVID. “I carry a lot of neediness,” he said, noting that he has been transparent with Klosed about his conditions from the start. LoGuidice is pushing for interim repairs to make Abrams’ apartment safe, the involvement of an elder-law attorney, and monetary compensation to address his needs.
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The next court date is scheduled for December 16.
Klosed Properties offered Abrams a $500,000 buyout for the surrender of his tenancy rights, according to confidential correspondence provided by Abrams. Saxton countered with $2.5 million, and the deal stalled. Recently, Abrams toured another Klosed Properties apartment featuring a balcony, central air, and a doorman. The one-bedroom unit also offers a view of the Hudson River. “I don’t want to be forced into a decision under duress,” said Abrams. “I would live my final days here boxing up and processing 21 years of stuff, not including roach eggs, and I want to do that with dignity.” If the unit can be made fully accessible to meet his needs, Abrams has expressed a willingness to relocate.
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Sounds like he has no family. There must be volunteers to help him pack. I’d help, but I wouldn’t be able to coordinate!
It’s kind of wrong to state his name and then compensate him by offering some kind of friendly help.
I’m confused and angry, for his sake.
Thank you for your compassion Phoebe.
There’s a lot of misinformation that’s frustrating and I feel that I should be able to combat that with more truth, but this has taken on a life of it’s own that doesn’t well reflect how I am living this out. Like how I have been affected by a TBI, and that the LL has always had a strategy to make everything harder for me. I don’t know that I would ask you to come and help me directly but there may be something that would be easy for you help with in the process. I don’t operate well in email but you can call or text me, 646-737-6744 Eric Stephen Abrams