Prep School Fights Grandmas Over Rent-Controlled Apts

A fancy Upper East Side girls’ school is mad a two grandmas, who it says are standing in the way of its expansion to a neighboring building. Both older women live in cheap rent-controlled apartments in 28 E. 92nd Street, and have for forty years. Nightingale-Bamford wants them out, and the women’s lawyer says it’s using mean girl tactics. "They are harassing two elderly women and trying to drive them out of their homes," said David Rozenholc. "I really believe they're heartless. They knew these elderly people lived there when they bought the building. I think it's terrible."

The school has planned a $5.3 million renovation to provide more space for its 560 elite students, reports the Post. In a petition filed last week in Manhattan Supreme Court Nightingale-Bamford claims that in order to stay in their bargain-priced apartments (one pay $1,043 a month for a one-bedroom and the other’s rent is $574 for a studio with a separate sleeping area) the old ladies have filed multiple inquiries about the plans "merely for the purposes of delay,"

So far the school—that charges yearly tuition of $33,000—has been successful at getting one 87-year-old tenant to leave: at first it offered her just $1,700, but when Marina Kimble hired a lawyer it gave her fair compensation to move into another apartment in the area.

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By Sabrina Jaszi in News on February 21, 2010 12:30 PM

Comments [rss]

Avatard

Sure, these "grandmas", which could easily be self-absorbed, well off, assholes like half the people cheating the rent control system, make the perfect foil for the bratty rich elitists at the girls school (some of whom are gifted poor girls who are on scholarship trying to learn their way out of poverty, or middle class stretched to the bone putting their kids in the best schools instead of the war zone that is public middle and high school in this decayed city). Takes a tabloid like the gothamist to make the Daily News look good. F*** you grandma! Gonna pawn your diamond rings now?

Stephenson Billings

They shouldn't be living alone in a big city in the first place.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

1700? Cheap bastards. I hope grannies win and screws these people hard

Splicer

I don't believe it's a i all girl prep school unless there are nightly paddlings and lesbianism -- oh, and they film it.

Splicer

I hate html tags -- an extra "i" in there when it should have said "real".

Stevennnn

Is this is my friends how people afford to live in Manhattan.

Greenpoint60

I am smiling because I pay 1/3 the rent that the young hipsters in the building shell out each month.

nicemarmot

While I generally have little sympathy for rent-controlled tenants I'm on the little old ladies' side too. Hello, you don't buy a rent-controlled building on the expectation you'll be able to kick everyone out right away. That's not how it works in this city. The school undoubtedly got the building for cheaper because of those tenants and now they want to complain about the same tenants.

henryhamilton

Team little old lady here. No contest. I love it when they give you that "I'm old and I dont give a damn" crotchedy attitude. Seriously. Oh, and I do concur. Great pic.