Eric Trump has been accused of landing residents of New York City's Trump World Tower with millions of dollars in fees following a deal to convert an unoccupied bar into “amenity space," The Villager reported.
Trump, the son of former President Donald Trump, denied the allegation through a Trump Organization spokesperson.
Trump World Tower resident Johanna Beiter filed a lawsuit against the condo board, of which Eric Trump is a member, saying he approved the conversion with little notice to condo owners and without giving them an opportunity to appeal.
"Beiter says that for the past four years, the space at the World Bar had sat vacant, but on Feb. 23, residents received a letter from the board disclosing the 'amenity space plans' and noting that they would start being charged the special assessment a week later, on March 1. The Trump Corporation began charging both the special assessment and 2% amenity charge fees that day, says Beiter," The Villager's report stated.
According to Beiter's lawsuit, the proposed conversion violated condo by-laws, since any project that exceeds $200,000 should first be voted on by residents.
“The allegations are completely baseless," the Trump Organization spokesperson said.
"Not only is the addition of this amazing amenity space widely supported by the building’s residents but, prior to voting, the board conducted extensive, independent diligence, was at all times represented by third-party counsel and the Trump Organization representatives – Eric Trump and (Trump Organization lawyer) Sonja Talesnik – abstained from all of the board’s deliberations and voting on this matter.”
Read the full report over at The Villager.
