Rent Increase for Sidewalk Bridge Limited

Landlord applied for MCI rent hikes based on façade restoration. The cost included installation of a sidewalk bridge while the work was being performed. The DRA ruled for landlord. Tenants appealed, claiming that the claimed cost of the sidewalk bridge was excessive. The DHCR ruled for tenants in part. The bridge was installed in October 2003, but the façade work didn’t start until April 2004. Landlord claimed that the bridge was installed early because at initial inspection the project engineer pointed out that there was an unsafe condition at the building. The façade work was then delayed due to the cold weather. Landlord’s cost for renting the sidewalk bridge during the six months before façade work commenced therefore was disallowed.

600 West 218th Street: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. VA430048RT (8/1/12) [3-pg. doc.]