The Jordan, a building located at 1200 Clinton St. in Hoboken, is officially subject to rent control after a federal judge dismissed the landlord’s case last week.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“For years, my administration has invested in housing affordability and fighting corporate landlords who jack up rents and price out tenants from their apartments in Hoboken,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“This ruling by the federal court is a major victory for tenants in Hoboken. The Jordan corporate landlord’s attempt at ‘forum shopping’ was an abject failure, as the Court tossed their claims in its entirety and didn’t even entertain their arguments. The City of Hoboken will continue to enforce its rent control ordinance to protect the residents of the Jordan.”
On September 13th, 2023, the Hoboken Rent Leveling & Stabilization Board determined the property, located at 1200 Clinton St., was subject to rent control.
They came to that conclusion because tenants were not provided with sufficient notice that the property was exempt from rent control or rent leveling in compliance with the City of Hoboken’s Municipal Rent Control Ordinance.
In January 2024, LPF 1200 Clinton Equity, LLC, the owner of the building, filed its initial suit against the city and the board challenging the board’s determination.
In April of 2024, the property owners filed an amended complaint which the city and board challenged each filing motions to dismiss.
Finally, one week ago, January 14th, U.S. District Judge William J. Martini issued an order to dismiss the case, and in doing so, upheld the board’s decision that the property was subject to rent control due to the landlord’s failure to provide the required notice.
“I am thrilled for the residents of The Jordan who have been fighting for years for their homes for legal Rent Control protections to apply,” added 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen, who is the council representative for The Jordan tenants.
“I pledged to the residents of The Jordan that I would stand alongside them, support them, and work with Mayor Bhalla to take on The Jordan’s well-funded corporate landlord that has refused to comply with Hoboken’s rent laws and threatened these 5th Ward residents with eviction and extortionate demand letters. I call on The Jordan’s management — at long last — to comply with Hoboken’s Rent Control Ordinance and be a good neighbor to the people of Hoboken.”
Bhalla also thanked the attorney who put his time and efforts into the case.
“I want to thank Daniel Antonelli, Esq. of the law firm Antonelli Kantor Rivera and his legal team for their aggressive defense of the Jordan’s continued assault on the rights of tenants in Hoboken,” he added.
“I want to assure Hoboken tenants that we will continue to aggressively defend against corporate landlord attempts to gauge rents and displace families in our community.”
The City of Hoboken continues to offer free legal services to Hoboken tenants in need. Any Hoboken resident having an issue related to tenancy or housing matters can contact Hoboken’s tenant advocate, Andrew Sobel, who is available by appointment.
To schedule an appointment, click here.
i live in Hoboken all my life so many changes, where are these buildings? they condos? we need affordable housing. I mean AFFORDABLE.
I don’t know why the landlord chose to litigate this in federal court seeking a declaratory judgement -something Courts rarely grant – but it Bhalla’s declaration of victory is premature.
All the federal Court did was decline jurisdiction – basically saying this is an issue for the State courts to decide. It did NOT rule that the City was right to impose rent control and the case likely just move into state court where the City will still likely lose on the merits after spending tens of not hundreds of thousands of taxpayers dollars on legal fees.
Ravi is looking for a job at Antonelli Kantor Rivera when he loses his next election.