The Post has details on how much tenants of 47 East 3rd Street settled for: "The [eight] tenants will each receive $75,000 under the settlement, except for one elderly resident, who will get $175,000." The tenants had been fighting to remain in the 11,000-square foot 15-unit rent-stabilized building, which was purchased for $900,000 in 2003 by Alistair Economakis who later decided he wanted to convert the entire building into a home--with a gym, nanny suite,......

The House Ethics Committee voted to begin an inquiry on Representative Charles Rangel's actions. Rangel's use of Congressional letterhead to solicit donations for a center being built in his honor, multiple rent-stabilized apartments, unreported income from a second home, and other unreported income from property sales have put the powerful Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee under the microscope (in many of the cases, Rangel has pleaded ignorance). Rangel's lawyer said, "We look......

The Post suggests that Representative Charles Rangel's income may now be above $200,000, which is more than the $175,000-ceiling to qualify for rent-stabilized apartments. Rangel up until very recently occupied four rent-stabilized units at Lenox Terrace, three for living and one as an office (he gave up the office after the disclosure). Previously, Rangel claimed his income was around $175,000, but there are recent revelations about unreported income from a vacation villa, unreported property sales,......

Today, the NY Sun had an editorial questioning why City Council Speaker Christine Quinn remains in a $1,600/month rent-stabilized apartment, when she makes $141,000/year from the City Council, owns half a $500,000 house in NJ, and her partner is a corporate lawyer enough for their combined income to probably be at least $300,000. The editorial then looks at Governor Paterson's and Representative Charles Rangel's rent-stabilized living situations (Paterson also has a home upstate, and Rangel......

The House of Representatives tabled a resolution to censure Representative Charles Rangel over his four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem. Put forward by Republican minority leader Representative John A. Boehner (just after Republican Senator Ted Stevens pleaded not guilty to taking $250,000 in gifts), the House voted 254-138 to table the resolution, which said Rangel was a "discredit to the Congress." Rangel, who had asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate his living/renting situation, said it......

After breaking the story that Representative Charles Rangel had four rent-stabilized apartments at Lenox Terrace, the NY Times continues to look at the Congressman's relationship with real estate, finding that developers are some of his biggest donors. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks donations, Rangel "has collected more money from real estate interests than all but two other members of Congress this election cycle," with many coming from developers who are reshaping......

Yesterday, Representative Charles Rangel sent a letter to the House Ethics Committee, asking for an investigation into whether his four rent-stabilized apartments at Lenox Terrace constitute an improper gift. Thought he's emphasized he's paying the highest legal rent possible, the fact that the building has attempted to evict other rent-stabilized tenants without political clout and the city's overall lack of affordable housing has made the matter controversial enough for Rangel to give up an apartment......

While Representative Charles Rangel has defended his multiple rent stabilized apartments--one of which he is giving up--as legal and aboveboard, today the NY Times details how his landlord has attempted to evict other longtime rent-stabilized tenants(ones without political juice), sometimes using aggressive tactics. Lenox Terrace, located on West 132nd to West 135th Streets between Lenox and Fifth, is operated by the Olnick Organization. One tenant, who was going blind and could not write his rent......

Representative Charles Rangel discussed his decision to give up one of his 3-4 rent-stabilized apartments by saying his re-election campaign-- which used a one-bedroom apartment with a monthly rent of $630 at Lenox Terrace in Harlem--"had decided they were going to move anyway" since the lease is up in October. Last week, the NY Times revealed that Rangel rented four apartments at rent-stabilized rates (one apartment is made up of two units) raising questions about......

After the revelation that he rents at least three rent-stabilized apartments (one unit is made up of two previously combined units) and ensuing uproar, Representative Charles Rangel will give up a 10th floor one-bedroom unit at Harlem's Lenox Terrace that he used as an office. The NY Times first reported Rangel's real estate riches last Thurday, and Rangel defended his actions as being legal. However, rent regulations require that, per the Times, "rent-stabilized apartments to......

Representative Charles Rangel gave a press conference defending his four rent-stabilized apartment at Lenox Terrace. The NY Times had reported on Rangel's unusual rent-stabilized "riches" in an article today (which was online last night), and the paper has three reporters on the scene at the press conference. The Observer observer this exchange between the 78-year-old Congressman and a Times reporter:"Paying the legal rent is not a gift. Are you doing this deliberately or are you......

Representative Charles Rangel isn't so happy with the New York Times: The Gray Lady revealed the high-ranking Congressman has four rent-stabilized apartments at Lenox Terrace, the Harlem development where Governor David Paterson also lives (Paterson only has one rent-stabilized apartment, though). The NY Times reports three of the apartments were combined to make one 2,500 square foot apartment on the 16th floor, while a fourth apartment serves as his campaign office "despite state and......

The Daily News scored an exclusive account of life inside the Economakis building on East 3rd Street-- their intern Barry Paddock happens to be one of the tenants getting evicted: "In eviction papers, they laid out a plan to combine our cramped but beloved rent-stabilized apartments into a suburban-style mansion. Apartments on my floor would be demolished and replaced by a hanging walkway overlooking their new two-story living room." Bonus fact: the Economakis family paid......

Last night, the Rent Guidelines Board recommended to increase rents for rent-stabilized apartments by 3.5-7% for one-year leases and 5.5-9.5% for two-year leases. This figure was deemed too high by tenants and not high enough by landlords. This proposed increase is higher than last year's (3% for 1-year, 5.75% for 2-year leases), reflecting the rising costs landlords face. The Post noted the meeting last night followed "a well-worn script" with tenants asking for a rent......

Spring is when the days are longer, cherry blossoms are in bloom, and the Rent Guidelines Board discusses this year's round of rent hikes for rent-regulated apartments. And this year's talks should be another doozy, as the RGB found landlord operating costs have risen 7.8% over the past year. This year, landlords will be asking for 10% hikes for 1-year leases and 15% increases for 2-year leases. Last year, rents hikes were approved for 3%......