Mitchell Donian, 87 years old, called George Capsis on May 30, extremely upset.
After living at 204-210 West 10th Street for 60 years, his landlord, Village Rose LLC, an absentee landlord, was threatening him with eviction because his apartment was cluttered.
George said: “call Arthur, he will help you.” So Mitch, who I have known for many years, called my office. We made a time to come in. When he arrived he had already been served with a “Holdover” petition, returnable in Housing Court on June 28. The non-profit of which I am President, Advocates for Justice, answered the petition. Mitch had photos showing that he had a full bookshelf (which the landlord had photographed through an open door), but that the apartment was clean and fully accessible, even to an 87 year old, and attorney Rich Soto appeared with him on the 28th. A furious back and forth went on all morning, and the Judge set a trial for 2pm.
Mitch told Attorney Soto that he really intended to move out of NYC by the end of the summer, to an upstate abode he owned, and that Soto should negotiate a buyout if he could. So they negotiated. The eviction action was withdrawn, Mitchell got a nice buyout, and he will spend his summer in New York hassle-free. We will miss him.
—Arthur Z. Schwartz
To Arthur Z. Schwartz: Hello. This is to inquire about my former next door neighbor in the West Village, Mitch Donian. Do you know where Mitch is now? I was his next door neighbor at 204 West Tenth Street for 44 years and I was in touch with him after I moved out in 2001 – but he did not tell me the details of this conflict with the landlord – But I knew when he moved out and in with his niece in upstate. That didn’t last for long and he moved back to Manhattan – to stay with a friend in upper Manhattan – not sure of the address. He got annoyed with me when I urged him to find an appropriate Senior Apartment – He just couldn’t picture himself there. I sent several suggestions for places near me, in Sullivan County but he never responded. I don’t even know if he’s alive still. I sent him an email on his birthday – March 20th – but did not receive a reply and it seems his cell phone is no longer operational. Do you know anything about his current whereabouts or the situation with him?
Many thanks for any information about him you can tell me.
Thanks.
Joan Rosenfelt
Pond Eddy, NY 12770
845-856-2575