Co-op Claims Enfant Teen Terrible Terrorizes Building

Real estate sales data showed that co-ops seemed to be losing favor since condos are much more flexible with buyers. Well, there's yet another story about how co-op boards wield a lot of power. The board at 320 West End Avenue is reportedly trying to kick out a family because the 19-year-old son has allegedly harassed residents, employees and pedestrians. The family is striking back, asking a judge for an injunction to prevent the board from voting to evict them.

The Post reports the 320 WEA co-op sent a letter to Francis Harvey Jr. and Jean Wilhelm last September detailing their son's various alleged misdoings - which included "brandishing a knife at a doorman, drawing swastikas on storage lockers...pouring water down a freight-elevator shaft onto a building worker while he was moving garbage," and possibly starting fires in the basement. Last month, the co-op board wanted to vote on evicting the family, claiming that "a pellet gun was fired at pedestrians from the family's $2 million apartment" in May.

Harvey and Wilhelm filed for the injunction to stop the board vote and are demanding proof that their son really did do those things (the Post did find building workers who think Alex is nice). The couple claims that if they are kicked out, they may not be able to find another apartment because other co-ops won't want to sell to them. There's a court hearing later this month, but the deck may be stacked against the Harvey-Wilhelm's, as the law allows co-op boards "wide latitude" to eject tenants over "objectionable conduct," according to Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums's president Marc Luxemburg. He told the Post, "There are specific standards of reasonable behavior that are imposed on shareholder."

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By Jen Chung in News on July 15, 2007 12:29 PM

Comments [rss]

bklynd

Our co-op ran some guy out for taking on a (very irritating) roomate. It was pretty much impossible to figure out whether the board was exercising due diligence or being discriminatory, since you couldn't tell what was fact and what was just silly rumors.

guest

my friend rents a unit in a co-op, and the son of one of the shareholders in the one above him tried to commit suicide by leaving the gas on. after a lengthy stay in the hospital, I think the other shareholders are still (rightfully) trying to evict him. his mother printed out letters to everyone in the building explaining that he won't harm anyone or himself, and that they just need everyone's "support."

??!!

JMH

That sounds like a great reason to kick a family out of a co-op.

guest

Too bad the Harvey-Wilhelm's aren't members of a 'protected minority group'. They could easily turn the case around and sue the co-op for $6.7 billion dollars, since they are 'victims' of the 'racist' co-op board. How dare they enforce 'Eurocentric' standards of behavior on tenants?

guest

If the kid actually did these things, this sounds like a mark in the plus-side of co-ops. Sure there are abuses in the system (although any board can be tossed out), but at least this one is trying to protect the others from some idiot loser kid. I guess in a condo you would have to move, not the problem makers, that seems fair...

guest

ehhh, rich NYC kid attending college on daddy's money and acting like a spoiled fucking brat?...nothing new

guest

Jen wrote: "...because other co-ops won't want to them."

It could also be written as: "...because other co-ops won't want them."

bklynd

True, though perhaps this is an instructive tale for new transplants. (Lots of what makes the news, like, say, car accidents, is not "news.")

But anyway - edit: "because other co-ops won't want to [accept?] them."