Burre v. Kipling Arms, LLC

2025 NY Slip Op 31232(U)
New York Supreme Court, New York County·Decided April 10, 2025·No. Index No. 153044/2025·Unpublished

Opinion

Burre v Kipling Arms, LLC 2025 NY Slip Op 31232(U)

April 10, 2025

Supreme Court, New York County Docket Number: Index No. 153044/2025 Judge: Phaedra F. Perry-Bond Cases posted with a "30000" identifier, i.e., 2013 NY Slip Op 30001(U), are republished from various New York State and local government sources, including the New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Service. This opinion is uncorrected and not selected for official publication.

NYSCEF DOC. NO. 54 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/10/2025

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK COUNTY

PRESENT: HON. PHAEDRA F. PERRY-BOND PART 35 Justice

-------------------X INDEX NO. 153044/2025 MERYL A BURRE, KRIS A BOSTON, BETHEL CARAM, MOTION DATE 03/10/2025 CARMEN CRUZ, DAVID DEITSCH, PHYLLIS EDELMAN, MICHAEL FLACK, RUTH FRIEDMAN, VALERIE FEUER, JON GARTENBERG, PETER GOLDBERG, MELISSA MOTION SEQ. NO. 001 KULL, SHARI SEGEL GOLDBERG, CHRISTINA GLEICHER, KRISTINA JOHNSON, SANDRA LAUREANO, JONATHAN MINlKES, JENNIFER MINIKES, MICHAEL OLIVER, ABIGAIL SLOANE, DONNA K SCEUSA, CLAIRE THEROUX, CAROL PERRY, KAREN EHRLICH

Plaintiff, DECISION + ORDER ON MOTION

-v-

KIPLING ARMS, LLC,

Defendant.

-------------------X

The following e-filed documents, listed by NYSCEF document number (Motion 001) 2, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 were read on plaintifrs order to show cause for an:

INJUNCTION/RESTRAINING ORDER Plaintiffs are twenty-four tenants having either rent-stabilized or rent-controlled apartments in 143-145 West 96th Street, New York, New York, which is owned by defendant, Kipling Arms, LLC (Defendant), and managed by the registered managing agent, Michael Dogherty.

On March 6, 2025, plaintiffs filed a summons and complaint, a proposed order to show cause with temporary restraining order (TRO), and supporting papers, seeking to enjoin Defendant, and its agents, from performing certain building improvements, pending final determination of this

153044/2025 Motion No. 001 Page 1 of 14

[* 1] 1 of 14

NYSCEF DOC. NO. 54 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/10/2025

action, or in the alternative these actions are authorization from the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). (NYSCEF Docs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,20,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33and34)

Plaintiffs' TRO, and ultimate relief sought, seeks to prevent Defendant from doing the following: 1) removing the doorbell to the inner door of the lobby; 2) installing an intercom system; 3) eliminating the manually operated elevator; 4) installing automatically operated elevators; 5) reducing and eventually eliminating building staff; and 6) eliminating mail and package receipt by building staff and door-to-door delivery of same.

Plaintiffs duly served and notified Defendant of the hearing. (NYSCEF Docs. 36 and 37)

On March 12, 2025, Defendant filed opposition papers (NYSCEF Docs. 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49), and on March 13, 2025, this Court held oral arguments. The parties argued both the TRO, and, due to the duplicative request, the ultimate relief sought by plaintiffs' order. (NYSCEF Doc. No. 2) On March 17, 2025, the Court ordered the TRO granted retroactive to March 13, 2025, and the OSC signed of even date. (NYSCEF Doc. No. 50)

ARGUMENTS

Plaintiffs contend that defendant's proposed building renovations constitute a modification or reduction of required services under the Rent Stabilization Code (RSC) (9 NYCRR) § 2522.5 (e) and the New York City Rent and Eviction Regulations (9 NYCRR) § 2202.21 (NYSCEF Doc No. 4, , 10). Plaintiffs argue that pursuant to 9 NYCRR 2523.4, landlords of rent-stabilized apartments must maintain all essential services-including manually operated elevators, security staff, and package delivery services-and may not diminish or discontinue any such services without prior approval from DHCR.

153044/2025 Motion No. 001 Page 2 of 14

[* 2] 2 of 14

NYSCEF DOC. NO. 54 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/10/2025

Plaintiffs argue that removal of elevator operators and in•person security would irreversibly diminish tenant protections, especially to elderly and disabled residents, who rely on these services for daily assistance, security, and emergency response (NYSCEF Doc No. 4, ,r 11).

Plaintiffs argue that RSC § 2522.5 (e) (3) allows an owner to file an application to modify or substitute a required service on the grounds that "such modification or substitution is not inconsistent with the Rent Stabilization Law and Code." However, it prohibits any such modification absent prior agency approval: "no such modification or substitution of required services shall take place prior to the approval of the owner's application by the DHCR" (RSC§ 2522.5 [e]).

Plaintiffs rely on 350 Cent. Park W. Assoc., LLC, Admin Rev DHCR Docket No.

JS430037RO (May 4, 2022), ajfd 350 Cent. Park W. v New York State Div. ofHous. & Community Renewal, 2003 WL 2029851 (Sup Ct, NY County 2023), ajfd 227 AD3d 492 (1st Dept 2024), where the owner applied to DHCR for permission to eliminate three elevator operators and replace them with one "hall person" (NYSCEF Doc No. 4, ,r 15).

DHCR determined that the proposed modification of a required service constitutes a reduction in service, and that the Rent Stabilization Law and Code, as well as the Rent Control Laws, unequivocally require owners to obtain DHCR's permission before making any such modification (NYSCEF Doc No. 4, ,r 2).

Plaintiffs argue that pursuant to 9 NYCRR 2523.4 (a) (1) and 2202.16, any reduction in required services-including modifications-is prohibited unless the owner obtains prior approval fromDHCR.

In their opposition, the Defendant argues that the installation of an intercom system, replacement of antiquated elevators with automatic ones, reduction in building staff, and transition 153044/2025 Motion No. 001 Page 3 of 14

[* 3] 3 of 14

NYSCEF DOC. NO. 54 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 04/10/2025

to centralized mailboxes-either constitute permissible enhancements or are de minimis modifications that do not warrant injunctive relief under the Rent Stabilization Code (RSC) (NYSCEF Doc No. 38, ,r,r 26, 27, 34, 36 and 37).

Specifically, Defendant maintains that the installation of an intercom system will supplement, not replace, current services, and, that pursuant to RSC §2520.6(r)(3) such additions do not require prior DHCR approval (NYSCEF Doc No. 38, ,r 11 ). They argue that the current system, which involves· the elevator operator answering the bell, and screening the visitors is rudimentary. Further, they assert that Defendant initiated plans to install an audiovisual intercom system with a virtual doorman component, to operate alongside existing services. They claim the intercom would be optional and available at no cost to tenants, and no existing door service would be removed absent DHCR approval (NYSCEF Doc No. 38, ,r,r 6-9).

Similarly, the Defendant's argue that the plan to install a modem automatic elevator, will continue to be attended as required by DHCR, and does not alter the essential service provided. Defendant argues that the replacement is necessary due to repeated breakdowns of the current manually operated 1927-era elevators (NYSCEF Doc No. 38, ,r 21).

The Defendant contends that it retains discretion over staffing decisions provided that all required services are maintained and that pursuant to RSC §2523.4(e)(22), a reduction in staff- excluding security-is considered de minimis and does not constitute a diminution of services.

Further, Defendant argues that the same applies to the proposed mail delivery change; the Defendant recently installed USPS-compliant lobby mailboxes, and RSC §2523 .4(e)(15) classifies the elimination of door-to-door delivery in favor of centralized mailboxes as de minimis (NYSCEF Doc No. 38, ,r,r 26, 27, 34, 36 and 37). The building uses a USPS-approved "Drop" system, where staff distribute mail to each unit. Defendant claims that this practice has resulted in safety hazards, 153044/2025 Motion No. 001 Page 4 of 14

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