Reviews

1.7/5.0

05/23/2020

I rented from winter 2018 through spring 2020.

2.5/5.0

11/16/2009

BOTTOM LINE OF MY REVIEW: If you can afford the rent here, are willing to be discounted by building management if you don't roll over and express gratitude regardless of what they do (or don't do), willing to trust what appears to be a dubious parent company, and don't care much about the physical condition of where you live or whether you'll get reimbursed for costs caused by building contractors, move in. But if all that doesn't give you pause, at least look very carefully at the details of what you're getting. Telltale detail: In an early meeting when I aired grievances, X and Y said I was accusing them of being slumlords and then praised themselves for keeping everything up to code. Had I known their standard of being good landlords was set so low (don’t be a slumlord—whatever that means exactly—and keep to code), I would never have rented here. I have sometimes wondered whether, if my complaints and standards came from a woman, they would have been so readily dismissed and discounted--whether as a man I'm expected not to care about how my surroundings look and feel. OWNERSHIP This review is about Crown Towers, one of a few neighboring buildings owned by an entity called New Haven Towers; see http://www.concord-sots.ct.gov/CONCORD/online?sn=InquiryServlet&eid=99 for sketchy, official Connecticut details about the ownership, which is foreign-based (probably Israel). It appears that New Haven Towers Associates LLC (last registered in 2000) owns Crown Towers (last registered in Feb., 2009). At the Secretary of State’s web site, New Haven Towers has business ID 0666697, Crown Towers 0963698. The maintenance manager is listed as "principal" (he may actually be a co-owner) for Crown Towers (presumably in a typographical error, he is listed as if two different people--his last name starts with "And" and should have no space after it), and one Avi Schron as principal for New Haven Towers. Both are associated with a company called Cammeby’s International, Limited (at the address filed with the Secretary of State’s office: 45 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, 212-825-0738; see http://www.spoke.com/info/c5fn7oO/CammebysInternationalLtd), whose president (Rubin Schron, presumably a relation) was recently indicted as follows: - The U.S. Justice Department is accusing two New York real estate players— a prominent real estate attorney and an investor who owns a part of the Woolworth Building and a major stake in the Israel Discount Bank—of accepting a $50 million kickback from a pharmaceutical vendor that serves nursing homes controlled by one of the men. The Justice Department on Wednesday filed a complaint against real estate investor Rubin Schron and attorney Leonard Grunstein, a partner at Troutman Sanders. Murray Forman, who is the sole employee of an investment bank owned by Mr. Grunstein, was also named in the filing. (more details at http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20091104/FREE/911049984) The firm is also cited on at least three web sites as undermining regulation of NY apartments - Cammeby’s International/Rubin Schron: Often listed with an address at 45 Broadway, 25th Floor, NY, NY 10006. The principal and founder of Cammeby’s is Rubin Schron, a real estate investor and financier, who owns the Woolworth building and also has a controlling interest in the Israel Discount Bank. Sale: in May of 2007, the properties were transferred from Cammeby’s International to Putnam Holding (http://www.saveourhomes.org/Harlem%20sale%20chart2.pdf) - The private equity arm of Cammeby’s International, controlled by Rubin Schron. This group specializes in buying Mitchell-Lama buildings, deregulating them and flipping them to other private equity investors. To date they have helped deregulate more than 5000 units of Mitchell Lama - The international investment group, Cammebys International, headed by NY real-estate mogul, Rubin Schron has acquired and deregulated at least 10 former Mitchell-Lama developments in four boroughs over the last several years. Recently Cammebys sold five former Mitchell-Lamas developments, serving almost 4000 families in Harlem and Roosevelt Island, after acquiring the portfolio in 2005 for $295 million. Cammebys flipped the portfolio to Putnam Holding LLC in June for just under $1 Billion; or more than three times what they originally paid. (more at http://www.hicnet.org/eventsdetail.php?pid=1430) Keeping all this in mind may provide interesting subtext as you read. Though it will be easy to determine who they are, here I refer to two main building representatives as X (leasing manager) and Y (property manager) because it is unknown to me whether their actions are autonomous or would be the same for anyone hired by this building—though the property manager’s association with Cammeby’s suggests his behavior is sanctioned. Truth in advertising: I am recently retired, highly educated, worked in jobs (variously corporate and educational) where personal tact was crucial, and had a 15-year romantic relationship end in spring, 2009, which in turn meant I had to compromise on living conditions I grew used to during that time. Since management has challenged my credibility by citing my web site (I haven't figured out what it exposes), I invite readers to check it out: richardyanowitz.com. In late August 2009 I moved into a 19th-floor, large one-bedroom apartment at Crown Towers even though it seemed a bit expensive (rent of $1375 includes all utilities but electricity) and I pay extra ($75/mo.) for parking. I have liked some features (fine view, considerable closet space, convenient downtown New Haven location, enough space for my many belongings and furniture inherited from the marriage, attractive main lobby, congenial staff--especially the doormen--other than X and Y, though X was quite amiable until the foofooraw got going; I sense that he got caught in the middle and blamed for leasing to me). While quite aware I would have to compromise on my living conditions, I expected a basic middle-class home, and when promoting the apartment, X seemed to support this expectation. I have been gravely disappointed in the continuing state of the apartment and feel abused and unwelcome by building management. I have also been victimized twice by contractors hired to re-do all the building's balconies with consequent cost to me for which I have not been reimbursed. (Contractor is Tower Building Services, 3868 Review Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101-2019.) THE APARTMENT Now that I've been here 2 ½ months, I suspect the building, over 40 years old, is mainly oriented towards students (especially med students whose school is nearby) and corresponding (low) expectations about the ambiance (as I had when I was a student). My apartment appears to have had occasional, unavoidable repairs, but otherwise allowed to decay through decades of wear and tear. On the other hand, I have seen at least one apartment in the building that, while not at all luxurious, is quite in line with what would have satisfied me. So I can speak here only of the shortcomings of my own apartment (and my treatment by building management) without being sure how representative it is. Given what I learned and reported above about ownership, I must also wonder what stake building owners feel in the welfare of their tenants. Despite some misgivings, I signed a lease for this apartment (some weeks before I moved in, so plenty of time to put it in order) because X wrote into the lease that the kitchen would get a new fridge, stove and floor, and he seemed to reassure me that other problems I might find would be fixed. He made clear he wanted me as a long-term renter because I was older, stable, responsible, quiet and have a very high credit rating. One of the things both X and Y stressed to me before I moved in was that if I could assure them I would be an ongoing tenant, they'd be much more likely to meet my needs. (Those of you not planning to stay long may want to remember this.) I explained honestly that while I certainly did not want to be moving constantly and would welcome a steady, comfortable home, at that point there was no way I could assure them I would stay put: I was in a major transition in my life and had to see how it felt both to live in the apartment and in New Haven. Perhaps I should have lied. (Turns out that were the apartment as I expected, I would indeed have been likely to stay on for some years.) Soon after signing the lease, I met with Y for the first time to go over work to be done in my apartment and had my first hint of trouble. While Y agreed about the new fridge and to provide a flat-topped range that I specially requested (though I was told I'd have to pay the extra cost), he questioned the need for a new kitchen floor. My heart sank at this sign that Y and X weren't in sync. After a little back-and-forth, Y seemed to agree on the floor. (What was finally put in is pretty nebbishy, but it was done, so I can’t complain.) But I now had experienced two warning signs which undermined my initial confidence that I would be living in a hassle-free home: that I couldn't trust that Y would automatically honor what X said, even if something was in writing, and that Y would be evasive about what he would do in response to requests I made. When I had viewed the apartment, I had noticed that the wood floors (actually, I’m not sure if they are wood or some wood-resembling substance) were in poor condition but assumed (big mistake; get it in writing and hope it’s honored) re-finishing them was part of standard preparation, like painting. Visiting the apartment a couple of days before my move-in date, I noticed that the floors still looked in bad shape. Later that day I sent an e-mail to Y mentioning their condition (and a few other less significant issues, most of which were acted on). I received no reply (note the mounting pattern), and the next day I ran into the super and started to say something to him about the still-unfixed floors, but he interrupted to say I should let his guys do their work. I took that to mean I was jumping the gun, and, not wanting to make waves, I trusted that the floors would indeed be refinished (or something equivalently attractive). When I finally moved in, the floors looked unchanged (though presumably cleaned). I immediately went to X and brought him up to see. He agreed that at least in some places (like around the living room window) something should be done--maybe tiles replaced--and said I should talk with Y about this. X also assured me that only triage had been attempted on the apartment because August had so many move-ins, and more issues would be addressed after August. I indicated willingness to be patient (though I felt this excuse was (a) ignoring the inconvenience of repairs after the apartment was no longer empty and (b) putting the burden on the customer when it should be on the landlord--I was, after all, paying full rent in the meantime). On the other hand, this triage explanation at least made it sound as though soon (since August was ending) much more would be done and promptly. At X's suggestion, I then sent the following e-mail to Y: "I am extremely dismayed with the state of my apt. Things I assumed would be done weren't. Other problems I've only noticed as I unpack, though frankly they mostly should have been taken care of without my having to call attention to them. "I showed X, who said I should ask you to come look at the apt. with me. I am often here but not always. Please call and arrange a mutually convenient time to come by asap. "I decided to move here because I assumed the apt. would be put in an order commensurate with its cost and the reputation of the building. I knew I was making a few compromises, but I thought I knew what they were, and I desperately needed a hassle-free environment. Having to deal with these matters is the antithesis of what I need to be doing at an already terrible time in my life. I am so depressed by this that I have stopped unpacking any more than essentials. "I look forward to going over this with you asap to rectify the situation promptly. Thank you." Nothing came of this. I began reporting new things that I found wrong with the apartment. I did this several times as I unpacked and noticed more and more details. Y never gave me information on what would be done or when, so when a maintenance guy would show up for each of the above fixes, it was always unexpected, and I never knew what would or wouldn't happen next. Here is a cumulative list of maintenance issues that have arisen, many individually small matters that soon add up for someone sensitive to his or her surroundings. - Blue stains on floor, unknown source - Badly weathered floor tiles, probably old water damage next to floor-to-ceiling living room window - Mismatched and chipped floor tiles which are often unaligned, some higher than others, so if you walk barefoot you will sometimes scrape your toes or the bottoms of your feet; I have been irritated by this but not damaged. - Many tiny white (probably dripped paint) and black spots (who knows?) that, when I vacuum, I keep going over because I'm never sure if they're dirt or stains. - Narrow bare floor strip without lino (new kitchen lino was not extended to this strip, where a folding door was removed at my request) - Brand new balcony (all are being replaced in the building) that looks much better than the old but is not sloped to drain water (pooled water lasted 2 days outside the doorway) - Filthy AC switches - Apparently encrusted dirt around outside of kitchen sink drain; the ancient-looking garbage disposal is disgusting - Ancient, damaged kitchen cabinets with magnetic door latches that have lost almost all their attractive power and have to be closed slowly all the way so they won't bounce open - Filth encrusted where you put your fingers inside the cabinet door latches probably the accumulation of 40 years - Sporadically placed, inconsistent and (to me) unattractive shelf liners - Chipped cabinet door edges - Uneven cabinet door alignment - Filthy cabinet door edges - Severely scarred shelving - Screws (from paper towel holder) coming through a kitchen cabinet shelf - Large ugly stain on makeshift plywood shelf beneath kitchen sink - Leftover wall items no longer in use: (a) apparently a door buzzer system in living room (b) DSL phone adapter in kitchen - Mismatched light switch and plug parts (including inconsistent polarity) - Filthy or chipped (albeit matched) light switch - Dent in closet door (all closet doors are metal--not pretty but a compromise I knowingly made) - Resolving nearly constant loud and irritating gurgling noises from the new fridge - Addition of a step-shelf in the fridge freezer as shown in the manual (without it you pile frozen foods on top of each other and have to paw through the stack to find something while trying to keep items from sliding out onto the floor) - Fixing the toilet flush mechanism, which runs now and then (you'd think they'd care about water wastage) - Several-days’ delay in replacing a defective smoke alarm - Several days between reporting a problem with my front door lock and its being addressed (part of the problem was that I didn’t understand how to use the lock—a simple fix when shown; part was a problem with the deadbolt) - Recently, a leak occurred in the apartment below and the super found the source of the problem in my bathroom; hours later, I noticed that floor tiles outside my bathroom had bloated and buckled, presumably from associated water damage; I reported the problem, but it has not been fixed. Here are some things that DID get done (in the context of never telling me what would be done or when): - Bathroom sink was badly rusted and looked ugly (after multiple requests from me, the sink and vanity were eventually replaced, probably the only effort that actually meant spending non-trivial money on parts and labor--nothing wonderful, but perfectly acceptable). - Vent in the kitchen was badly pitted (this, too, was eventually replaced). - A small shelf was put in the bathroom to be near a plug. - The medicine cabinet was re-touched to eliminate significant rust. - A bad crack where two walls met was patched and painted. - A missing top on a kitchen faucet was replaced. (Why, one wonders, was it missing in the first place?) - A plastic towel bar that I broke was promptly replaced. - Some weeks later, after repeated requests, a broken smoke alarm was replaced. Only partly unpacked and feeling stonewalled, I decided I couldn't stand living here without the fixes that were being rejected. I had a troublesome meeting with X and Y (the one that included their indignation at being accused of being slumlords). They repeatedly said they would not satisfy my needs about the floors or kitchen cabinets, that the only alternative was to put in new ones and the owners would not pay for that. (It was mentioned that this could be done if I made some kind of financial contribution. Though reluctant to do so, I asked to be informed what it would cost me. I never heard. I probably wouldn't have done it anyway--why subsidize landlords with multiple holdings?--but this is another example of an absent follow-up.) I was subjected to some pop psychology by Y (roughly, "are you sure you're not reacting this way because of your marriage breakup?" as though my needs were irrational) and a rebuke for coming up with list after list (apparently there's a statute of limitations on how much it's ok to notice) and for being overly-sensitive to my surroundings (when I had first shown X the floors, he told me I'd get used to them once I was here for awhile--quite the reverse has happened; in any event, of course, it's not for him to judge my needs by standards in his own head). I felt treated like an ungrateful and nagging malcontent out to cause trouble when what I desperately wanted was to feel settled into a comfortable home with no hassles with anyone. X and Y repeatedly stressed that I was the only unhappy tenant (clearly not true) so I must be the problem. They never lost a tenant before, they insisted, as though it were my job to keep such an alleged record intact or that such a record was a legitimate basis for judging my requests unacceptable. In the end, they told me they could not justify to the owners [recall the confusion over who owns the building] breaking my lease and agreed to let me move if I wanted but that I would have to pay rent until someone else moved into my apartment, which at this season (they said) might take months. If, on the other hand, they found a replacement, I would have to be out 15 days from that lease-signing. I said ok, but in the next day, having looked at a few apartments and realizing that frantically seeking a new place while under such pressure was even worse for me than living in this apartment, I withdrew my request. I finished unpacking. I exchanged with Y increasingly unpleasant e-mails (on both sides, though the unpleasantness from him--almost always with the facade of politeness that pretends tone is all that counts--was a maddeningly inaccurate way of summarizing what I sought; I can’t make up my mind if this is a result of calculation or incompetence, or both). I felt and continue to feel unwelcome in what is supposed to be my home In late September, after refusing to attend a meeting on which Y tried to insist, I received an e-mail from him that started out by scolding me: "With all due respect the company has nothing but bent over backwards to address all your complaints regarding your apartment. "After receiving list after list and complaint after complaint I now truly believe that you meant to rent a luxury apartment but didn't want to pay the price and thought you would be happy here in a forty year old building (by no means am I taking anything away from the building). Crown Towers is a beautiful building and great place to life, full of happy tenants that truly feel like they are not being slighted on a daily basis. "Let's be very clear as to what we are dealing with here. When you rented with us we showed you Apt 19E the exact apartment that you rented moved in to and at that time you requested a few item to which we were happy to oblige. For example, a glass top stove (which the company does not offer) and new frig etc. "After you moved in much to our surprise you requested a new floor, new walls, new bathroom and now new hallways and trash cute. "You tell me if that's being reasonable. When we met last in the leasing office with Mr. Anderson I truly believed that I was able to resolve all your issues as I always have been able to do in the past. I should say with all reasonable requests that I have received in the past and that I do receive on a daily basis. But in this case I do not believe we can accommodate this any further." I won't bother to pick at the details of this message. You can decide for yourself whether it expresses justified righteousness and indignation at not being sufficiently appreciated, or self-serving persiflage After reading the first few words and realizing this was yet another scolding, I stopped only to learn later that the e-mail went on to offer me the right to move out at any time if I give at least 30 days' notice. Whether I will incur the cost and energy to do so remains to be seen. The next day, after I had figuratively thrown up my hands in despair at getting my needs met, I received an e-mail from Y which included this abjuration of further responsibility to fix ANYTHING that he considers aesthetic. "I do want to make you aware that at this time we understand that you have made the decision to stay on for the year and from this day forward the Towers will no longer be addressing any of your aesthetic concerns, but that if something isn't working, (like your smoke detector or valid maintenance issue), that you either call it into Debbie in the Mgmt. Office between 9am-5pm, or that you email it in to the main service in-box." I assume that Y does not ignore “aesthetic “concerns for his family in his own home, and you can decide whether attractiveness of your surroundings has nothing to do with your happiness in a home. Miscellaneous gripes outside the apartment: - The garbage chute handle has long needed replacement--it is barely attached and has totally been unusable at least once since I've been here. - Laundry seems expensive ($2/washer or dryer load, though it's many years since I didn't have my own laundry equipment) and requires a smart card that costs $4 (without the card, you can't do laundry in the building). - If you have visitors who want to park in the building lot, they (or you) have to pay. - Hallway carpeting (at least on my floor) is shabby. - There is an approximately $200 fee to lease an apartment. Who knows where that money goes? (An instant credit check was included, though I could have provided a printout of my credit report.) BALCONY CATASTROPHES Soon after work started on the balconies, two things happened that cost me considerable time and dislocation--and money. 1. When sand-blasting my old balcony, the contract workers did not seal a door properly and my apartment became permeated with dust. (On the other hand, I also feared that despite wearing gauze masks they were inhaling this dust that surrounded them.) I learned this wasn't the first time they had done this and that the sealing would be fixed and my apartment cleaned. The first cleaning effort was horrible. The 2nd (after I complained) was much better, but weeks later I still find fine dust collecting on surfaces, and I don't know what long-term effect the dust may be having on my health or copious electronic equipment. (To give X and Y their due, they seemed genuinely upset that this had happened, for whatever use that serves.) Within a few days of that fiasco, the workers were again sandblasting, and this time I checked quickly to discover they STILL hadn't sealed off my apartment! I was dumbfounded and immediately signaled them to stop. Y had the super seal the door properly this time. 2. The rear window on my car was shattered (a cop showed me where the window had been struck by something hard about half the size of a ping-pong ball), which I discovered on a rainy evening. I learned that the balcony workers had previously damaged at least one other car, and since my car had been parked relatively close to the tiered balconies, it was highly likely that something like a concrete chunk had flown off and struck the window from a higher floor during the helter-skelter preparation of the balconies. To give X credit, when he found out he arranged for me to park in a locked area overnight, advised me where to get the glass replaced (rather than going via my insurance company; and he was right), and assured me that although I had to put the bill through Y, I would get reimbursed by the contractor. As he had questioned whether my apartment really needed a new kitchen floor, so Y now questioned whether I could prove the breakage was the contract workers' fault. Of course I couldn't PROVE it; but even X had agreed that this was the most likely scenario. When I passed the bill over, Y variously indicated that he would merely pass the bill on and let the contractor decide what to do, or maybe he would follow up. Of course I've heard nothing since (again, no follow-up information) [but see a later exchange added to the end of this review]. I keep asking for the money, but I expect they're going to stiff me unless I sue. I finally realized that of course the building ownership should be reimbursing me directly and dealing on their own with the people they hired. If you rent here, the balconies should have long since been finished--but who knows if another, parallel building-wide repair will be in order? (Rumor has it that the [new?] owners only re-did the balconies because they would otherwise have been in a problematic situation about financing. (If so, is this another sign of neglect on the part of the owners?) When I originally viewed the apartment and commented on the bad state of the balcony, X did tell me all balconies would soon be replaced. What neither he nor anyone else told me was that it would take many many weeks with intermittent loud noise during which time I was partly paying for use of an unavailable balcony. Nor was I told they'd be hiring a contractor who tolerated abuse of tenant property. If you've read this far, I admire your pluck. UPDATE: After writing the above, I encountered Y outside the building talking to three men, apparently to do with building business. I went up to him and interrupted. Here is a log of that exchange (I paraphrase, and the statements may not be in exact sequence): ME: Do you have my money? Y: No. ME: When will I get it? Y: I can’t say. ME: The building owes me this money. Y: The contractor says they didn’t do this. ME: I don’t care. The building hired them. The building is responsible. When will I get my money? Y: I’ll look into it. ME: When? Y: I’ll talk to the owners. ME: I want contact information for the owners. Y: I am not authorized to give that out. They hire me so they won’t have to deal with such matters. ME: You are deliberately not paying me the money because you don’t like me or my attitude about my apartment, and you are punishing me. Y: I’m not punishing you. I’m in a meeting. ME: It’s time you made me a priority before everything else. You are harassing me with your passive-aggressive responses. You accuse me of harassing you [this in reference to a recent e-mail from him], but it’s the other way round. Y: Yes, you are harassing me. ME: I’m not an interest-free financial institution. Pay me my money. Y: I’ll look into it. ME: When? Y: I can’t say exactly. ME: I cannot afford a collection agency so I’ll have to keep demanding my money directly. The contractor’s workmen broke my car window, and the building is responsible because it hired them. Y: We don’t know they broke the window. ME: Then who did? Y: I don’t know. ME: Why did X say he was sure that was how it happened? Y: I don’t know. ME (after starting to leave): By the way. Saying to me [in a recent e-mail] “if you don’t like it here, you can move” is shameful. Shameful. Notice that only here did I get information (and conflicting information at that) which I had sought for some time. Finally, if you have the stomach, here’s a copy of my own most recent (11/13), irritated e-mail to Y. (The latter part repeats a brief exchange between us.) Have you mistaken me for an obedient lackey? Since you veto anything I ask anyway, but since I have to make sure I maintain an audit trail so you can't later pretend you didn't hear about a problem and thereby claim the right to even more of my money than you've already illegitimately withheld (to put it politely), I'll continue to bypass any middle person and go straight to you, o wise judge, jury, lawmaker and executioner of all you survey. Do the right thing, starting with getting me the money that the "building's" sophistry (and dismissal of the judgment of one of its own key employees) has kept from me. Make sure you include late charges in that payment. You seem to think I enjoy this ongoing, toxic conflict. But you also seem to think that because I hate it you can get away with treating me like a piece of fecal matter. (Or perhaps you're used to being obeyed without question?) To compare great things to small, I haven't fought racism, anti-semitism (indeed chauvinism of any kind), genocide, war-mongering, repression of the underprivileged and similar immoral behavior by the powerful to roll over now in the face of oppressive treatment towards me by a petty tyrant. I wish to lodge a formal complaint against you. How do I contact your boss? Y wrote: All work request should be called in to the office or emailed to service@newhaventowers.com From: Richard Yanowitz Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 8:03 AM To: Y Subject: more damage Floor tiles outside the bathroom are loose and bulging since "fixing" of a leak yesterday. The balcony sloping has not been repaired. Water still pools directly in front of the sliding door. Fine dust continues to collect everywhere. As you know, numerous other items remain unattended to. ---------------------------------------------- Where's the money the building owes me for my car? I expect the building's own penalties for late payment to be added to the amount. I rented from summer '09 through fall '09. ...

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123 York St, New Haven, CT 06511

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