UWS Condo Board Sues to Kick Allegedly Violent Resident Out

The board of an Upper West Side condominium building is suing a resident in a bid to force the sale of his apartment—after he allegedly threatened a couple of his neighbors with death, among other things.

Lawrence Feldman, a former alto saxophone player for the Saturday Night Live band between 1980 and 1983, currently owns a unit at 251 W. 89th St.—otherwise known as the “Admaston.” He has also performed with renowned musicians such as Tony Bennett and Liza Minelli, according to his professional biography.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on June 10, Feldman has allegedly been “violating” the by-laws of the building and “causing a private nuisance to other Condominium residents and staff members.” Namely, he has allegedly participated in “aggressive, menacing behavior, the destruction of property and physical violence.”

At one point, lawyers allege, Feldman attempted to break into a resident’s apartment in the middle of the night; he also reportedly harassed her with what the suit describes as “vile and disgusting rhetoric” that included threats of sexual and physical violence.

According to court filings, Feldman engaged in one particular campaign of terror between May 14 and May 15 of this year. This allegedly involved the aforementioned threats against a female resident, Bridget Gilbertson, which included threatening to kill her. She has since moved out of the building with her husband.

He also threatened to kill the building’s resident manager around then, court documents allege, in addition to chasing him into the basement and throwing his scooter onto the ground.

During this rampage, court documents allege, Feldman also smacked the building’s porter and grabbed the building’s doorman—not to mention threw the latter man’s monitor onto the ground. He also reportedly issued a broader barrage of loud misogynistic, racist, and threatening statements in the hallway of the building’s third floor and in its lobby.

Cops reportedly showed up and eventually handcuffed Feldman, before taking him to a local hospital. He was apparently released the next day. In court filings, Gilbertson said that she witnessed Feldman lying on the floor of the lobby and screaming angrily at a responding officer, as well as claiming that he had a knife on him.

Other by-laws have been violated by Feldman after his release from the hospital, plaintiff’s lawyers argue, as he has allegedly gone on to monopolize the building’s public space. Specifically, he has been observed “loitering and lounging in the vestibule, front entrance, and main lobby of the building.”

“His presence and conduct materially interfere with residents’ and staff’s ability to safely and peacefully use the entrance, vestibule, lobby, elevators, and other common elements of the Condominium,” lawyers wrote.

Furthermore, they alleged that Feldman frequently lets his unleashed dog wander the lobby and use the rest room on the roof deck, both violations of building rules.

All of this reported chaos has led the condominium board to seek dramatic remedies from the court, including the forced sale of the apartment that he bought in 1986, which is worth more than $400,000 today (other apartments in the building cost millions).

The board is also seeking a permanent injunction and damages, as well as attorney’s fees and a $250,000 surety bond.