Rents increase 90 percent at Brooklyn apartment complex

While many landlords are lowering rent in the tough economy, one Brooklyn management company has gone the opposite direction: it has raised rent by 93 percent. The residents of East New York’s Linden Plaza at 675 Lincoln Avenue allege that they were promised Section 8 vouchers to cover the $300 rent hike, but that delays have left them unable to foot the new bill. These problems have forced half the tenants out of the building, according to tenant association leader Pam Lockley. RY Management Company president Bob Vaccarello said the rent increase was made to pay for a much needed $52 million renovation of the building, including roof repairs and security improvement, and said that Section 8 delays were the result of late applications, not bureaucratic mismanagement.