Tenants of three Long Island City apartment buildings are alleging that the developer that owns their sites had overcharged rent by more than $50 million in a new lawsuit filed Tuesday against the landlord.
An investigation by watchdog organization Housing Rights Initiative (HRI), in partnership with State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez’s office, claimed Rockrose Development Corporation had engaged in the overcharges while simultaneously claiming 421-a tax program benefits that exempted the company from paying nearly $200 million in taxes.
The buildings involved are Eagle Lofts, the Linc and Hayden LIC in Long Island City. The tenants, who are represented by Newman Ferrara LLP, are now demanding the landlord refund their overcharged rents while also lowering their rates to the net effective base rate initially promised and advertised…