208 East 88 Street,
Manhattan, NY 10128

20 Units

Built in 1930

5 Floors

Rent Stabilized Units: Yes
Good Cause Eviction: Yes
Evictions: 2
Litigation History: No
1 Year Bedbug History: No
Pet Friendly: Yes
Building Overview
Building Report
lock
Once you submit an anonymous review for this building (or any other) you will gain access to the entire openigloo platform

Renters Recommendations

-- of renters recommend this building

-- of renters approve of this owner
Review Summary for 208 East 88 Street
Summarized from anonymous rental reviews on openigloo.
Recent reviews for 208 East 88 Street reveal a stark divide in tenant experiences. Some tenants commend the prime Upper East Side location, spacious apartments, laundry facilities, and relatively good water pressure, noting a quieter atmosphere and decent neighbor relations. However, others report severe issues with cleanliness, pest control, heating, and garbage management, describing neglected maintenance, mold problems, and poor owner responsiveness. Concerns about health and safety risks, prolonged service outages, and alleged management tactics fostering tenant instability are prominent. While a few recommend the building for its location, significant management and building condition shortcomings highlight the need for urgent improvements to ensure livability and tenant well-being.

Reviews (3)

2 months ago
Uncle Miltie: Slumlord Multi-Millionare
Former Tenant
Pros:
Prospective renters in Manhattan should strongly reconsider any properties under the management of Milton Taube, often referred to as "Uncle Miltie." As a long-term resident of of his Upper East Side building, 208 East 88th Street, I have endured persistent and severe neglect that has rendered the living conditions untenable. Structural deficiencies abound, including pervasive mold growth that compromises air quality and health, and prolonged gas outages spanning months, prolonged gas leaks for months, forcing tenants to rely on makeshift electric hot plates for basic meal preparation—as if urban living were reduced to primitive camping.
Maintenance efforts are woefully inadequate: superficial fixes, such as applying inexpensive plaster over underlying issues, invariably fail, exacerbating the problems over time. Tenants have documented instances where building superintendents merely painted over black mold with white paint, a practice that not only masks hazards but endangers residents' well-being.
The management team's approach is equally reprehensible, characterized by indifference and apparent malice. Requests for assistance go unanswered, with only ambiguous notices posted on doors regarding service disruptions. There appears to be a deliberate strategy of delaying repairs to incentivize the departure of established tenants, potentially to facilitate higher rents or redevelopment. Reports of intimidation tactics—such as unwarranted eviction threats or baseless accusations of lease violations—further compound the hostility, fostering an environment of fear and instability. With ongoing violations cited by city authorities, the property verges on constituting a public nuisance, contributing to elevated stress levels among residents—personally, I have experienced significant health impacts, including heightened blood pressure—and prompting many neighbors to relocate en masse. The allure of a prime Manhattan location cannot compensate for these egregious shortcomings; this exemplifies the archetype of exploitative property management. If ratings permitted, this would warrant zero stars.
Cons:
Don't take my word for it, New York Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/22/nyregion/22about.html
Advice to owner:
Remove Life Support and forced property transfer to NYCHA
5 months ago
Great location ues
Former Tenant
Pros:
Location
Size of apartments
Laundry in building
Cons:
Can hear neighbors
Not very clean common spaces

Building Ratings

Cleanliness
Garbage Management
Heat
Neighbors
Noise Levels
Owner Responsiveness
Pest Control
Water Pressure

Rents and Deposits

-- of renters received their security deposits back
It dummy text been reported if this building dummy electronic rent payments.
Open Violations
Only open violations from the last 10 years.
Data last updated 3 days ago.
The average number of violations per unit at 208 East 88 Street is better than the city.
BUILDING AVERAGE:
0 violations per unit
NEW YORK CITY AVERAGE:
0.81 violation per unit
flag
Non-hazardous
0
class A
i.e. no peephole on a door, or no street # on the building, unlawful keeping of animals
MOST RECENT:
No violation found...
Show all
flag
Hazardous
0
class B
i.e. smoke detector issues, inadequate lighting, no lighting for stairways
MOST RECENT:
No violation found...
Show all
flag
Immediately hazardous
0
class C
i.e. rodents, pest, mold, inadequate heat or hot water, defective building parts
MOST RECENT:
No violation found...
Show all
flag
Missing information/filings
0
class I
Missing or non-compliant with administrative information orders or filings
MOST RECENT:
No violation found...
Show all
Property Owners and Associates
R
208 Realty Equities LLC
2.1(3)
Corporate Owner
1 Property20 Units
Litigation History: No
Evictions: 2
B
Ben Spiteri
2.1(3)
Site Manager
1 Property20 Units
Litigation History: No
Evictions: 2
A
Arlene Novick
3.5(23)
Officer
5 Properties208 Units
Litigation History: Yes
Evictions: 5
M
Milton Taube
3.5(23)
Shareholder
5 Properties208 Units
Litigation History: Yes
Evictions: 5

Renter Q&A

ask-question
Be the first to ask a question!
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock insights about this building
Review your building to unlock access to tenant reviews OR purchase access to unlock insights about violations, complaints, infestations, and more.
Already have an account?Login Here