Trump Organization will fight ‘rogue individuals’ who want the president’s name shed from UWS condo
Photo via Nick Normal’s Flickr
In February of 2017, residents of Trump Place at 200 Riverside Boulevard voted to remove “TRUMP” from the condo building’s exterior. Neighboring buildings found at 140, 160, and 180 Riverside Boulevard had already successfully removed his name, following a petition with hundreds of signatures. However, the 48-story condo at Trump Place, located on the Upper West Side, has not moved forward with the removal of the president’s name because the Trump Organization threatened to sue.
In response to this threat, board members in January asked a judge to issue a declaratory judgment that the condo has the right to either keep or remove the letters without violating its licensing agreement. The president’s son, Eric Trump, who serves as a trustee of the organization, promised on Monday to “fight vehemently against rogue individuals” who want to remove the name (h/t West Side Rag).
Although the use of the Trump name on the building was secured in a four-page licensing agreement signed in 2000, the Trump Organization does not own the building but manages it. As 6sqft previously reported, the agreement describes Trump as a “worldwide renowned builder…who enjoys the highest reputation” and gives DJT Holdings the right to exit the deal if the building is destroyed or stops being a condo.
According to 200 Riverside residents, the agreement “does not obligate the board to use or display identifications” but “grants the board the right to use the identifications should the board choose to do so.”
The Trump Organization has asked for each “unit owner who expressed concern” be identified, a request to be decided at a hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Board members want names of residents redacted from any legal papers in the lawsuit, to protect them from financial risk, according to the Daily News.
Ahead of the hearing, Washington Post reporter David Fahrenthold on Monday asked Eric why the organization is paying costly legal fees when it does not receive any money from the licensing deal, and when the condo board does not want to even change the official name of the building.
“My father built many buildings, created an incredibly vibrant neighborhood and set new standards of residential luxury,” Trump responded. “There are hundreds of residents who purchased property in 200 Riverside Boulevard because of the name and the world class service that it has consistently delivered from day one. I will always fight vehemently against rogue individuals not only to protect our incredible owners, but also to protect the legacy of a true visionary who did so much to shape the New York City skyline.”
[Via West Side Rag]
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