Case Type

Article 78

Housing Type

Rent Stabilized

Court

Supreme Court, New York County

County

New York County (Manhattan)

L&T / Index / Case / Docket / Clerk's Number

453580/2026

Slip Opinion Number

Not Stated

Petitioner

Kenilworth Holdings LLC

Respondent

New York City Rent Guidelines Board

Judge

Brendan T. Lantry, J.S.C.

Decision/Order Date

2026-09-16

Posture

Post-Answer Motion by Landlord

Disposition

Motion Granted for Landlord

Winner

Landlord Substantially Won

Synopsis

Multiple landlord LLCs bring this Article 78 / declaratory judgment action challenging RGB Apartment and Loft Order No. 58 (June 25, 2026), the Board's first rent freeze since its 1969 inception, covering all rent-stabilized apartments for leases commencing October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Petitioners allege the freeze was a predetermined outcome engineered by the mayor's Board appointments and campaign promises, pointing to a Board member who resigned the morning of the vote citing procedural irregularities; they seek annulment of the order and expedited discovery of communications between the Mayor's Office and the Board. The Board contends the freeze was lawful, rational, and reviewable solely on the administrative record. Case transferred from Richmond County to New York County. Court grants limited expedited discovery of mayor-Board communications to determine whether the executive office improperly influenced the Board's purportedly independent process; merits of the Article 78 petition and Board's cross-motion to dismiss are reserved; parties ordered to a discovery conference September 21, 2026.

Keywords

Article 78; Rent Guidelines Board; RGB; Rent Freeze Order; Apartment & Loft Order #58; Discovery Granted; CPLR 408; Arbitrary and Capricious; Rational Basis; Mayor's Office Communications; Independent Review Process

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