Ekstein sues Midtown condo building over project delays

Developer claims restricted worker access to M127 is preventing demolition of church

From left: 127 Madison Avenue, 30 East 31st Street and Erik Ekstein
From left: 127 Madison Avenue, 30 East 31st Street and Erik Ekstein

Erik Ekstein’s Ekstein Development is suing the managers of a Cardinal Investments-developed Midtown East condominium for allegedly causing construction delays at the firm’s condo project next door.

In a lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court, Ekstein claimed that the managers of M127 have prevented workers from going inside to install protective scaffolding and other prep work. Ekstein is in the process of razing the Madison Avenue Baptist Church, a five-story property at 30 East 31st Street, DNAinfo reported.

Cortes Partners acquired the church for $15.6 million in July, but Ekstein is redeveloping it.

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The new condo building is expected to rise higher than the 13-story M127 building. M127’s board of managers declined to comment to DNAinfo.

The roof protections need to be installed before work can begin, according to the lawsuit. [DNAinfo]Mark Maurer