realestate

Chrysler Building Ownership Dispute Continues After Initial Setback

Case may drag on until end of year.

A
judge's ruling last week has temporarily resolved a dispute between Cooper Union and Aby Rosen, but the larger battle over the Chrysler Building is far from over. Judge Jennifer Schecter issued an injunction preventing Rosen's team from interfering with Cooper Union's management of the tower and collection of rents from tenants. This decision should alleviate confusion among tenants, who were previously unsure whom to pay rent to.

    However, the underlying case remains unresolved, with Cooper Union seeking to evict Rosen from the leasehold due to non-payment of ground rent. Rosen is fighting back with a $100 million lawsuit against Cooper Union for allegedly mismanaging the property. Sources suggest that the case could drag on until the end of the year, unless the parties decide to settle out of court.

    Both sides are in a difficult position. If Rosen is evicted, Cooper Union would need to find a new developer to manage and renovate the aging tower, which requires significant capital work. On the other hand, Rosen's firm is on the defensive, but eviction could leave the Chrysler Building without a capable owner or manager.

    The fate of the iconic skyscraper hangs in the balance, with many hoping for a swift resolution to avoid a repeat of the situation at 70 Pine Street, another landmark tower that was left vacant before being converted into apartments. As Mitchell Moss, a professor of urban policy and planning at NYU, notes, "The Chrysler Building is too important to New York City to be treated as just another old office building."

Chrysler Building in New York City amidst ownership dispute litigation.