Should We Feel Sorry For Novo Contract Holders?

Say what you will about the Novo’s architecture or finishes, or about its developer, or about the fact that it won’t have the most exciting commercial tenant in the world. All of a sudden, we’re starting to feel kinda bad for the 4th Avenue condo’s contract holders, some of whom have been waiting a looong time to move into the building. While everyone knows that new-construction delays are possible, or even likely, we’re hearing some desperate stuff from contract holders these days. One person posting on the Novo Yahoo group last week had this to say: “I heard a somewhat worse scenario from my mortgage broker who called the sales office today. They said the TCO is now expected in July with closings 30 days later – that potentially pushes closings to August. What does that mean for move ins? I’m assuming September. Sorry if you think I’m being too pessimistic, I’m just reacting on what I’ve been told. Trust me, I just want to get into the place, I’m in a studio with a year old child! Mucho fun. Been in contract since early April last year so I’ve heard it all by now. Wish I’d have seen through the BS back then. This is business to them, a potential home to us…” Meanwhile, the contract holder who sent us the tip a couple weeks ago saying he and 11 other buyers were about to be released from their contracts because Novo developer Shaya Boymelgreen hadn’t finished work on the adjacent public park by late June wrote to say he hasn’t seen Boymelgreen’s workers making any significant progress on the park. (Neither have we). With all the delays, he’s ready to throw in the towel. “Finding an affordable 3br apartment in Park Slope is a Herculean task,” he writes.” We are so disappointed with what has happened with the Novo as it had affordable 3br units. I believe now at this point we will start looking for a new rental and perhaps look at options outside of Park Slope or perhaps the city altogether.”
C-of-O Woes for the Novo? [Brownstoner]
Novo Takes a Nosedive [Brownstoner] GMAP