Disabled East Village Co-op Resident Sues Over New Parking Rules and Lot Sale
A disabled East Village co-op member has sued Village View Housing Corporation, saying new parking rules threaten his long-used spot as the board moves to sell the lot.
Steven Andruseaski, a 61-year-old East Village resident diagnosed with morbid obesity and osteoarthritis, sued Village View Housing Corporation after the co-op introduced a new parking agreement that could permit the removal of his car from Parking Lot 7. Relying on a cane and able to walk only about 200 feet, Andruseaski depends on the spot for medical appointments and grocery trips, paying $200 a month for the space his family has used for more than 40 years.
He claims the agreement breaches state human-rights statutes and asks a judge to bar the co-op from denying him access. The lawsuit emerges amid Village View’s plan to sell the 110-space lot for a mid-$30 million residential project, a move that has spurred hundreds of shareholders to demand greater transparency and question the board’s authority. Board attorney Jodi Stein says the parking case is separate from the sale, while other owners such as Sebastian Kot and George Jarema have also filed challenges, alleging the new rules could be used to facilitate the development. The co-op does not need shareholder approval for the sale, only clearance from the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Why it matters
The case highlights how housing co-ops' policy changes can affect disabled residents' daily lives and raise questions about transparency in redevelopment plans.
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