DOCKET NUMBER: DG 410107-RO
                                 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


     ------------------------------------X 
     IN THE MATTER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE :  ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
     APPEAL OF                              DOCKET NO.: DG 410107-RO
                                         :  
                                            DRO DOCKET NO.: CA 410051-RP;
     CLARENDON MANAGEMENT                                   L 3117157-RT
     CORP.                 PETITIONER    : 
     ------------------------------------X                             


           ORDER AND OPINION DENYING PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW

     On July 20, 1989 the abovenamed petitioner  owner  filed  a  Petition  for
     Administrative Review against an order issued on June 19, 1989 by the Rent 
     Administrator concerning the housing accommodation known as 445 West  23rd
     Street, Apartment 9C, Lower Manhattan.

     The Administrator had issued a prior order terminating the providing based 
     on a  finding  that  the  complainant  tenant  had  vacated  and  left  no
     forwarding address.

     The Administrator subsequently reopened  the  proceeding  and  issued  the
     herein appealed order establishing a fair market rent  as  of  October  1,
     1976 based on the average  of  Special  guideline  and  comparability  and
     directing a refund of excess rent.  A complete  rental  history  had  been
     submitted.   In  updating  the  rent  the  Administrator   suspended   the
     collection of a guideline adjustment for 3 months pursuant to Section  20A
     of the former Code because the lease of a prior tenant had not expired.

     In its petition the owner urges that the Administrator was precluded  from
     using the rental history prior to April 1, 1980 and  applying  the  former
     code pursuant to the decision in J.R.D. Management v. Eimicke, 148 A.D. 2d 
     610, 539 N.Y.S. 2d 677 (App. Div. 2d dep't 1989).

     The Commissioner is of the opinion that the petition should be denied.

     The J.R.D. Management case is applicable to the  Second  Department.   The
     Appellate Division from the First Department, in which  the  premises  are
     located, held directly contra in Levanant v. DHCR, 198 A.D.  2d  185,  544
     N.Y.S. 2d 331 (App. Div.  1st  Dep't  1989).   Moreover  the  J.R.D.  Case
     involved a rent overcharge rather than a fair market rent proceeding.

     The Commissioner, therefore, finds  that  the  Administrator's  order  was
     correct.

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




     ORDERED, that this petition be, and the same hereby is,  denied  and  that
     the order of the Rent Administrator be, and the same hereby is, affirmed.






          DOCKET NUMBER: DG 410107-RO

     ISSUED:



                                                                   
                                     ELLIOT SANDER
                                     Deputy Commissioner