Roosevelt Landings made itself something of an outlier when new management severed the thread of WIRE buildings, dropping the E by replacing “Eastwood.” New owners, L+M, kept other continuity and built some trust in the community. But in the last year, that’s been changing as L+M handed over management to a subsidiary – C&C Realty Management.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
What followed at Roosevelt Landings, originally Eastwood, should come as no surprise as C&C earns a rating of only 1.6 out of 5 on Yelp. “The WORST most unresponsive management company,” one review says.
And C&C, according to current residents, is bringing its worst in class operations to Roosevelt Island.
The New Management at Roosevelt Landings
A year or so ago, tempers flared a little when extreme rent increases in market-rate apartments sent tenants fleeing Roosevelt Island. But a host of current residents report worse – along with creeping suspicions about C&C’s intentions.
Who looks after this guy while you’re away…?
“I like this building and my neighbors,” one began. “Roosevelt Island has a really nice sense of community and I hope it stays that way.”
But his tone quickly changed.
“The Roosevelt Landings apartment complex has many rent stabilized apartments, typically owned by elderly and disabled individuals. The new management implemented many ‘technology’ upgrades – I believe intentionally haphazardly – to try and force out as many rent stabilized units as possible.
“it started with the company upgrading the billing system with very little notice. This resulted in them having a process server come and hand out notices of non-payment.”
And as with other tenants, a more immediate crisis tipped frustrations over the edge.
Building Entrances
In recent years, management at Roosevelt Landings seemed baffled by the basics. Because buzzers at front entrances seldom, if ever, worked, doors were often propped open to the street. At all times, friendly neighbors allowed strangers entry because there weren’t any reasonable options.
Finally, C&C came up with a solution, but consistent with its Yelp history, it was awful.
“The major incident I would like to report to you, is the changing of the building locks with very little notice,” a resident emailed.
“Last Tuesday the building management sent an email and later distributed a flyer door-to-door informing residents the front door key would be replaced and no new keys would be distributed. The only way to enter the building now is via key fob or a cell phone app.
“The building gave us 6 days notice to get a key fob to enter the building we live in. When trying to get a key fob immediately after the announcement we were turned away, telling us only the building manager could issue them and he was away, and to return tomorrow at 10am. We did, and the manager was again away for the day. We returned on Thursday and the line was out of the building.”
Another tenant noted, “C&C is changing the access to the Landings buildings, from keys to a fob or an app on the phone. Not a senior-friendly method of access.”
Many seniors don’t have smart phones nor are they adept with apps.
“This method is also problematic if your phone is lost, stolen, or simply out of juice,” another said.
Alternatives?
The new management tries handling this issue by distributing key fobs but restricts distribution.
“But the fobs are only issued to household members. You can’t have one for a guest who is visiting for a week, not even if you gave them that guest’s identification information.
“Let’s say your mother arrives to help with cooking Thanksgiving dinner while you’re at work. How does she get in? What if your houseguest arrives from the airport while you’re at work?”
Another tenant emphasized serious problems created, especially for Roosevelt Landings’s many disabled residents.
“Management is charging residents with aides, $35 per key per aide. Some folks have 3 and 4 aides…”
Anger Over the New Management Doesn’t Stop There
They built a construction shed behind Eastwood, complete with lights. However, they never turn the lights on, and it is dark and dangerous at night, often with homeless people sleeping in it.
“Recently, there has been human excrement underneath it as well…”
He continued…
“The smoke doors in the hallway are frequently broken – inoperative and stuck in an open position. It is very difficult to get through and doesn’t open automatically, thus extremely dangerous to one in a wheelchair. There are times when it is stuck in a close position, and with my full weight, I cannot open it.
“In the past, they regularly shampooed the carpet, not to mention, vacuumed it in the hallways. It was I believe daily when I first came here. Now I believe it is monthly.”
Finally…
Solutions are there. One resident emailed a detailed summary along with an analysis of why C&C doesn’t tackle the obvious. We’ll withhold that for now because it might help identify the individual who prefers staying anonymous.
Suffice it to say that other complexes without doormen find a way to keep tenants safe while still providing secure access. When they don’t, it’s either incompetence or it’s intentional.
Which have we got here?
The Other End of the Leash
The first thing winter reveals when it loosens its grip is not green grass. It is honesty.
The lights have been broken on my moms building ramp for years.