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Judge tosses David Blumenfeld’s lawsuit over “uninhabitable” penthouse
Counterclaims over wild parties at his pad can go forward
A State Supreme Court judge on Monday tossed developer David Blumenfeld’s lawsuit against the co-op board of his Greenwich Village apartment building, instead clearing the way for the board’s complaints over wild parties held at Blumenfeld’s penthouse.
Judge Kathryn Freed dismissed Blumenfeld’s claims that the board and landlord were neglecting $1 million in repairs needed in his penthouse at 49-51 Downing Street. Instead, the judge approved the board’s claims that Blumenfeld played party host to a “constant stream” of club kids and other rowdy guests in the apartment, the New York Post reported.
“The constant stream of guests stayed in the apartment for approximately seven months, creating all manner of disturbances to occupants in the building, but never once complained that the apartment was ‘uninhabitable’ for any reason,” board secretary Kim Youngberg wrote in court papers.
Blumenfeld conceded that some of his party guests acted inappropriately but told the newspaper that he plans to appeal the ruling.
Blumenfeld’s firm, Blumenfeld Development Group, has been slowing its activity of late. In March, the developer pulled the plug on creating a 160,000-square-foot retail store in Jamaica, Queens. The firm had also received permission from the Landmarks Commission to convert a five-story commercial building in Noho into three apartments, designed by Morris Adjmi. Instead, it put the property on the market for $21 million. [NYP] — Kathryn Brenzel