An accused squatter from hell may even have a declare to the rent-controlled pad in a swanky West Village constructing the place he’s allegedly been terrorizing neighbors for months, authorized consultants stated.
Melvin DeJesus, 66, moved into the Fifth-floor unit at 400 Bleecker St. roughly twenty years in the past when a lifelong New Yorker with a “coronary heart of gold,” John Grafenecker, took him in, a detailed relative of the late tenant stated.
“John actually took care of Mel it doesn’t matter what — he paid loads of payments, meals, Con Edison,” stated Grafenecker’s kin, who requested to stay nameless.
“He had an excellent coronary heart.”
DeJesus stayed within the condominium after Grafenecker’s loss of life at 84 final yr and is now dealing with potential eviction — because the constructing proprietor claims he turned the enviable digs right into a “flophouse” and has been making loss of life threats in opposition to his neighbors, The Put up beforehand reported.
However the alleged terrifying tenant may have a proper to maintain the coveted rent-controlled unit, in line with pointers governing the scarce inexpensive housing provide.
“As horrible because the conduct is, it appears on this case that this squatter may very well have succession rights to this condominium,” stated David Schwartz, an lawyer at boutique New York Metropolis-based regulation agency Aidala Bertuna & Kamins PC.
The roughly 16,400 rent-controlled models within the metropolis require steady occupancy — both by the unique tenant or “lawful successors” — since 1971, in line with town’s Lease Tips Board.
Succession rights are triggered when somebody has lived within the unit for over two years and proves some type of relationship — familial, romantic or monetary — with the first tenant.
DeJesus has claimed in courtroom papers that he has authorized proper to stay within the condominium as a result of the now-deceased longtime tenant was truly his homosexual lover of 30 years.
However DeJesus’ declare to Grafenecker’s residence of 79 years made his relative ”livid.”
“I don’t suppose he has any proper to try this,” the member of the family fumed, telling The Put up that Grafenecker and DeJesus have been primarily roommates.
“That’s information to me,” the relative stated of DeJesus’ declare that the 2 have been home companions.
The eviction case in opposition to DeJesus is ongoing, however Schwartz stated The Brodsky Group’s $5.5 million lawsuit in opposition to the accused nightmare tenant may see him banned from the constructing — whatever the consequence in housing courtroom.
“As soon as this begins affecting different individuals within the constructing and creates a harmful state of affairs, it goes past the scope of landlord tenant regulation,” Schwartz stated.
“If this have been taking place some other place moreover New York Metropolis, this particular person would have been thrown out already.”
Grafenecker’s kin recalled that DeJesus was “nice” sober, however stated they noticed first-hand the “very nasty, very violent” conduct — described by neighbors and in courtroom papers — as his obvious drug and alcohol issues grew.
“[Grafenecker] was appalled by it,” and made a number of experiences to police, although continued to foot DeJesus’ payments, the relative claimed.
“[Grafenecker] was a great particular person,” his member of the family stated. “He had a coronary heart of gold… he wasn’t appreciated by Mel.”
Whereas the story of how the odd duo two met is unclear, Grafenecker’s life as a village fixture is wealthy intimately.
He moved into 400 Bleeker St. as a five-year-old in 1946 and lived there till his loss of life from pure causes in October.
A graduate of the Faculty of Visible Arts, he ran boutiques within the village, together with one as soon as straight throughout the road from his lifelong residence referred to as “Two of a Sort.”
That was a play on the identify of his first store, “One in every of a Sort.”
“Elton John got here in and acquired an entire bunch of stuff,” the relative advised The Put up. “They went out to dinner.”
His third boutique on Charles Avenue, “Sheik,” was featured in a 1979 New York Instances story.
Grafenecker later grew to become a gardener, doing initiatives inside constructing lobbies and for personal gardens.
“He beloved that, and was excellent at it,” his relative recounted, and continued working till a couple of years earlier than his loss of life.
Grafenecker’s condominium — which he probably rented for a fraction of the market price — would lose its rent-controlled standing ought to DeJesus get the boot.
However as a result of the constructing — the place a two-bedroom condominium just lately rented for $6,700 a month — has over six models, it will probably enter a much less restrictive affordability program, hire stabilization, as an alternative of being supplied at market price.
At a listening to for the owner’s eviction case Tuesday, a courtroom clerk talked about the pending lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Courtroom in opposition to DeJesus — which seeks an order to ban him from the constructing.
“What am I going to do?” DeJesus replied, “sleep on the streets?”
DeJesus declined to remark when reached by cellphone.
His daughter advised The Put up that he’s estranged from his household.
