71 Broadway: This Is Where Dominique Strauss-Kahn Is Under House Arrest

Ex-IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn was released on bail yesterday afternoon, hours later than he expected to leave, because there were problems with where he'd be spending his extra-supervised house arrest. After Bristol Plaza, an Upper East Side building on East 65th Street found out that Strauss-Kahn's wife rented an apartment for him, they said no deal because residents didn't want an alleged sex attacker and media circus. So the security company overseeing the house arrest has installed him at 71 Broadway, which made prosecutors upset.

Assistant DA Artie McConnell pointed out, "This location is in downtown Manhattan it's one or at most two lanes of traffic there. It's near Ground Zero, and near transit hubs and construction sites. It's an extremely problematic area for the police to control... To throw what has become a very large media presence into the mix in that part of town is really potentially crippling to downtown Manhattan."

71 Broadway is an upscale rental building, with studios starting at $2765/month—the Daily News notes there are "corporate apartments [with] gleaming white kitchens, floor-to-ceiling windows and walk-in closets. Two-bedrooms rent for more than $4,000 a month, and guests have use of a fitness center and a billiards room." However, Strauss-Kahn, who has to pay for the $200,000/month security, is allegedly "locked in."

Still, while 71 Broadway is nice, the NY Times reports that Strauss-Kahn was expecting the "deluxe" UES accommodations at The Bristol Plaza (the website says it's "better than a hotel" and there's daily maid service). But one person staying there said, “It doesn’t seem quite right for him to be put here with the rest of us, enjoy our hospitality, after what he’s been accused of doing. The discrepancy between Rikers and here is probably very great, and it doesn’t seem quite right." A lawyer for Strauss-Kahn explained, "Last night there was an effort by the media to invade the building. That is why the tenants in the building will not accept his living there," claiming that Strauss-Kahn family decided not to reside there "out of respect" for everyone else. (71 Broadway doesn't get that respect!)

The Times adds, "The Bristol Plaza was not the only building that objected to the possibility that Mr. Strauss-Kahn might move in. Lawyers for Columbia University alerted the district attorney’s office that they did not want Mr. Strauss-Kahn to stay with his daughter, who lives in graduate housing on 112th Street, according to a lawyer briefed on Columbia’s position."

Strauss-Kahn was indicted on charges of two counts of a first-degree criminal sexual act, and one count each of attempted rape, sexual abuse, unlawful imprisonment, sexual abuse and forcible touching.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on May 21, 2011 6:49 AM

Comments [rss]

Archie1954

Please remember that he is accused of rape but it hasn't been proven in court yet. Perhaps we should let what passes for "justice" in the US take its course before we tar and feather the former head of the IMF.

hotguy

Yes and the french are our friends
If it wasn't for them and for us Irish we would still be Royal subjects!!
In france this case would go no where
In America if you do what he supposedly did and he is a public figure then you are skewered and tried I'm the media even before your case is heard. This is why he can't get a fair trial! I think it's just a case of rough sex gone wrong!
She probably knew very well who this guy is. Then she saw euro signs and got greedy and made up a false police report so she could strike it rich. Who knows Maybe the cops will wind up arresting the African and letting the poor guy go.
If oj can get off for a murder of his wife because he was "black " and Rich then I see some hope for this old guy! He does have full diplomatic immunity though so I'm thinking he will walk anyways!!
So give the fremchie a break
Or is it Jewish guy?

Bugenhagen

Actually, DSK living in Columbia graduate housing would have been a sight to see. That's entertainment!

SonnyBobiche

As always, being a socialist leader seems to pay very well.

pr3t3nd3r

LOL he is filthy rich socialist! Wow 'socialism' must have a whole different meaning from what I learned

Bugenhagen

He's a *French* socialist (PS). They don't drive Twingos.

WetButt

It could be very hard to keep track of him down there given all the scumbags in suits walking around

BlahBlahStopIt

Noone even knows if what he is being charged with is even true. You are quick to state to toss him back in rikers ? ? .... What happened to innocent before being PROVED guilty. I myself am far from a "global elite" individual. But as for bail hearings etc etc.... there are countless, people who are released on a daily basis, over and over, who are TEN times worse then this guy, They are career criminals, robbers, pedophiles......

sdkeller72

Disgusting, stick his butt back in Rikers. This is just another example of the global elite thumbing their noses at the rest of us. I hope he gets 25 years for his actions, lord knows he deserves life for his crimes as president of the IMF for which he'll never be charged.

hotguy

It's disgusting the way the media has portrayed him
Maybe the girl was being paid for extra service and didn't provide it?
She took the money and he got angry?
And it doesn't make any sense that he would try to rape some girl from Africa !!
There's not exactly a whole lot of hot chicks in afrikakaakakaaaaaa!!!!

e non

is that you, benji. with that hair, 'hotguy' is not the tag that comes to mind...

Joanna Asperger

I would hate to find out that New Yorkers are paying for his armed guards!

BrooklynDnB

It was reported he would have to pay for the guards. Hope that's true.

Mr Mel

Oh, he's paying for it all right. A rich man in jail, will pay just about anything to get out. The security company and the lawyers will be the real money-makers here.