In re Jewelry Center Co.
Opinion of the Court
The requirement that an adverse change in circumstances must be shown to exist before a second application may be made under subdivision 1 of section 4 of the emergency rent laws (Commercial Rent Law, § 4; L. 1945, eh. 3, as amd., Business Rent Law, § 4; L. 1945, eh. 314, as amd.) does not extend to alternative proceedings under subdivision 2. Relief under subdivision 1 may be granted only where it appears that the gross rentals from the entire building are insufficient to yield a fair return to the landlord. Once an increase has been allowed under that subdivision a second proceeding may not be maintained in the absence of a showing that the rentals fixed in the first are no longer sufficient to produce a reasonable return. There is no limitation as to the amount of increase that may be allowed in a subdivision 1 proceeding.
An alternative proceeding under subdivision 2 is quite different. It is an “ additional ” proceeding which provides for the allocation of the basic rent on a square foot basis without regard to the actual income from the property. Since increases may be obtained under this subdivision even though the property is yielding a reasonable return or better, the statute protects the
Accordingly, the order appealed from should be reversed and the petitioner’s application for a further 15% increase granted. Settle order.
Peek, P. J., Glennon, Dore, Yan Yoorhis and Shientag, JJ., concur.
Order unanimously reversed and petitioner’s application for a further 15% increase granted. Settle order on notice.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.