advice and rents in NYC

[jenny_ravenclaw]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> wrote:

> > 
> > IIRC she lives in the Bronx. Where landlords view tenants 
> > *voluntarily* moving out as the *most* welcome, unexpected, 
> blessing  from heaven. A landlord blessed with a vacant 
> apartment can demand a  schmier from *each* applicant and 
> make the best few bid against each  other, bidding up the rent. 
> To a level that makes getting bad tenants  in exchange for good 
> tenants a good bargain.>

No, we live in Harlem and it was not easy to get this apartment.  
After having looked consistently for more than four months, we went 
through a rigorous screening process to be accepted by the landlord.  
We are *excellent* tenants and exactly the kind of people landlords 
want (we both work, have good credit, etc).  In the Bronx, BTW, 
landlords do not compete for tenants, as most of the Bronx is still 
quite poor and there is little competition for rent.  Rents in the 
Bronx are considerably lower than even the really bad areas in Harlem.  
Manhattan as a whole is another story where the average rent for a 
one-bedroom is (IIRC) $1800.  Raul and I got a 2-bedroom for less than 
half of that.  We are *not* moving any time soon!

Pippin wrote: 
 
> In Chicago, a club like that would be run by The Mob, though.  
> That might be true in Jenny's case also. Going through building 
> management would probably be a safe way to find out what the 
> story is. It's hard to get the media interested in stuff that goes 
on in a "bad" neighborhood,   unless you get a whole community 
organization together to complain.>

LOL about the Mafia, Pippin!  I'm pretty sure that the Mafia isn't 
around here (I don't think they'd be too welcome in Harlem).  I really 
like the idea of contacting our landlord, though.  He doesn't live 
around here but he might actually hear us out and look into the 
situation.  After interviewing both of us for over an hour, it's the 
least he could do!  

Raul and I have also discussed speaking to our neighbors, but I worry 
that our names and faces may make their way to the owners of the club 
if we do.  I was thinking of posting a sign downstairs anonymously 
encouraging our neighbors to call the police on weekend nights when it 
gets noisy.

Thanks to everyone who gave me advice about this.  If I can help get 
this club shut down, it would make an enormous difference on our 
block.  Recently our landlord contacted the city and had a new street 
light installed down the block.  Just because of the light, the 
regular drug dealer and the men who hung out in the shadows there have 
moved elsewhere.  The closing of the club would be even better!

--jenny from ravenclaw***********************