CC410043RO
                                  STATE OF NEW YORK
                      DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL
                            OFFICE OF RENT ADMINISTRATION
                                     GERTZ PLAZA
                               92-31 UNION HALL STREET
                               JAMAICA, NEW YORK 11433


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          IN THE MATTER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE     ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
          APPEAL OF                               DOCKET NO.: CC410043RO
                                                  
          ELSIE COULSON BLOCH                     RENT
                                                  ADMINISTRATOR'S DOCKET 
                                                  NOS.: BG430030B
                                  PETITIONER            BF410533S
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            ORDER AND OPINION GRANTING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
                                       IN PART

               On March 8, 1988 the above-named petitioner-owner filed a 
          Petition for Administrative Review against orders of the Rent 
          Administrator issued February 4, 1988 and February 9, 1988. The 
          orders concerned housing accommodations known as Apts. 3A, 3B and 
          1A located at 38 E. 75th Street, New York, N.Y.  The Administrator 
          directed restoration of services.
            
               The Commissioner has reviewed the record and carefully 
          considered that portion relevant to the issues raised by this 
          appeal.

               The tenant of Apt. 3A commenced a proceeding on June 18, 1987 
          by filing a Statement of Complaint of Decrease in Services.  The 
          complaint was assigned Docket No. BI410533S. On July 10, 1987 three 
          tenants, one of whom was the tenant of Apt. 3A, joined in filing a 
          complaint alleging decreased building services.  The complaint was 
          assigned Docket No. BG430030B.  In both complaints it was alleged, 
          in relevant part, that the owner was no longer providing basement 
          storage space.

               The owner was served with a copy of the complaints and 
          afforded an opportunity to respond. The owner filed responses in 
          each proceeding and, in sum, stated that none of the complaining 
          tenants was entitled to free storage space. 
           
               The Administrator ordered physical inspections of the subject 
          building in both proceedings.  The inspections confirmed the 
          tenants' allegations to the effect that they no longer had access 
          to the basement storage space, as such access was discontinued in 
          1984.

               On December 11, 1987, in Docket No. BG430030B, the 












          CC410043RO

          Administrator sent a notice to the three tenants who joined in 
          signing the building-wide services complaint.  The tenants were 
          requested to 
          provide a sworn and notarized affidavit regarding the providing and 
          discontinuance of the storage space.  The tenants submitted such an 
          affidavit, duly notarized, on December 28, 1989.

               The Administrator issued the order in Docket No. BI410533S on 
          February 4, 1988.  The order in Docket No. BG430030B was issued on 
          February 8, 1988  In each order the Administrator directed the 
          owner to restore storage space. A rent reduction was not ordered in 
          either proceeding.

               On appeal the owner supplied the Commissioner with copies of 
          two Stipulations of Settlements, between it and the tenants of 
          Apts. 3A and 1A, concerning legal actions brought by the parties in 
          New York State Supreme Court and New York City Civil Court.  Both 
          tenants agreed, among other things, to withdraw all proceedings.  
          The Division's records reveal that the tenant of Apt. 3A has 
          vacated the subject apartment, apparently pursuant to this 
          settlement.

               After careful review of the evidence in the record and the 
          above mentioned Stipulations of Settlement, the Commissioner is of 
          the opinion that the petition should be granted in part and the 
          order issued in Docket No. BI410533S should be revoked. The order 
          issued in Docket No. BG430030B should be modified to order 
          restoration of services only for the tenant of Apt. 3B.

                The Commissioner agrees that the stipulations entered into 
          between the tenants of Apts. 1B and 3A and the owner are proof that 
          these tenants wished to withdraw their complaints before the 
          agency.  However, the owner has not put forth any such proof with 
          regard to the tenant of Apt. 3B.  The Commissioner finds, with 
          regard to that tenant, that the Administrator adequately 
          investigated this issue and that the order directing restoration of 
          services was correctly premised on the inspector's report and the 
          tenant's notarized statement described above.  The building-wide 
          order directing restoration of services is affirmed with regard to 
          the tenant of Apt. 3B.

               THEREFORE, pursuant to the Rent Stabilization Law and Code it 
          is 















          CC410043RO


               ORDERED, that this petition be, and the same hereby is, 
          granted in part, that the Rent Administrator's order in Docket No. 
          BI410533S be, and the same hereby is, revoked and that the order 
          issued in Docket No. BG430030B be, and the same hereby is, revoked 
          with regard to the tenants of Apt. 3A and 1B and affirmed with 
          regard to the tenant of Apt. 3B.  

          ISSUED:



                                                                             
                                             JOSEPH A. D'AGOSTA
                                             Deputy Commissioner