UWS Landlord Files Demolition Permit, Hold-Out Tenant Stands Firm

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The battle rages on between a real estate organization and a lone tenant of an Upper West Side building.

The Naftali Group at the end of last week filed a demolition permit with the city for 215 W. 84th Street, which it bought as part of its $71 million purchase of 207 to 221 West 84th Street.

The one problem? A person still lives in the building.

While the developer filed the new demolition permit, it does not mean that the hold-out tenant Ahmet Ozsu is any closer to moving out.

The new owners stopped accepting lease renewals and all other residents have agreed to move out.

The developer plans to build an 18-story luxury condominium tower at the address to replace the four-story building that currently stands there.

Ozsu and Naftali Group have filed multiple lawsuits against one another and received coverage from the New York Times, New York Post, and other major publications.

Accusations from the dueling sides include a media war from Ozsu's legal team and the purposeful placement of noisy industrial air filters outside of his door by the new building owners.

Naftali Group also claims that Ozsu is attempting to get a seven-figure payout.

“The recent filing of a demolition permit represents our confidence that this frivolous claim will be resolved in our favor,” David Scharf, Naftali's attorney, told Crain’s this week.

The building is currently known as the Eagle Court.

There is no projected date for when the demolition of the building might start.