85 Eastern Parkway to get an additional 8 stories

Holy jesus. 

Someone apparently rented the obviously-subdivided #1DA for $2,750 (I wonder how they chose that number?) in November:

http://streeteasy.com/building/the-martha#tab_building_detail=3

I admire the tenants for organizing and getting public about the goings on at the building.

To my knowledge, this landlord has not offered the existing tenants buyouts.

Instead, "his" strategy seems to be to renovate and subdivide apartments that become vacant in a manner that is disruptive and illegal.

...rumors are that the above vacate order stemmed from completing renovations on 1D and 1DA that were not only outside of those stipulated by the existing work permits, but also completed during prohibited hours:   Tenants reportedly regularly heard construction until midnight.   

However, it took DOB until after the unit was completed and rented to secure a Vacate Order, and void the other permits issued on the site.

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/OverviewForComplaintServlet?requestid=5&vlcompdetlkey=0001968508

Here's what the tenant website says about the 1D situation.  This appears to be an older post:

Back at the beginning of 2014, long-time tenants moved out of rent-stabilized apartment 1D. Rather than rent it out again, advisors talked the owner into turning it into two miniature apartments. The concept they touted: claim rent stabilization was ended because the apartments are new, and charge a fortune in rent. That the kitchens are in the living room, and some of the bedrooms are barely eight feet wide was apparently not considered relevant.

That was the idea, and so the owner spent a very tidy sum to gut the apartment, frame out two miniaturized apartments, and redo the plumbing.

Then reality appeared: the architect didn't think out the plans, and a number of features won't pass inspection by the DOB [Department of Buildings]. At all. Six months later the apartment stands unfinished [and unrented]. The prospects for its future are equally dim, as some of the problems in the design [i.e. proper egress et al] have no obvious solution. And sitting in the wings are all the violations of the Multiple Dwelling Law that have yet to be cited.

Hanging over everything is the basic legality of claiming that the space has been destabilized, an unresolved legal issue that begs years of litigation.

To add insult to injury, the architect and his contractor tried to cut corners with the DOB [permits and such], and as a result, have incurred two separate Stop Work orders, resulting in fines of $5000 each.

In the meantime, 1D sits empty, the rent disappearing, month by month.

Here is what DOB has written about 1D:

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/OverviewForComplaintServlet?requestid=8&vlcompdetlkey=0001971265

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/ECBQueryByNumberServlet?requestid=8&ecbin=35161527L

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/ECBQueryByNumberServlet?requestid=8&ecbin=35161528N

The DOB is also not pleased about what it has seen in 4D:

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/ECBQueryByNumberServlet?requestid=8&ecbin=35114256R

Or, 2C:

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/OverviewForComplaintServlet?requestid=8&vlcompdetlkey=0001918520

The DOB site does not list the fines due yet, but it would surprise me if they end up being over $20k.

...the ALJ actually gets to decide such things.