The City of Hoboken today announced that a federal court has dismissed in its entirety a lawsuit filed by the ownership of The Jordan, upholding that the property is subject to rent control. The ruling represents a milestone victory for Hoboken tenants and reinforces the City’s commitment to preserving housing affordability.
On Sept. 13, 2023, the Rent Leveling & Stabilization Board determined the property, located at 1200 Clinton St., was subject to rent control because tenants were not provided with sufficient notice that the property was exempt from rent control or rent leveling in compliance with the City of Hoboken’s Municipal Rent Control Ordinance.
In January of 2024, LPF 1200 Clinton Equity, LLC, the owner of the building, filed its initial suit against the City and the Board challenging the Board’s determination. In April of 2024, the property owners filed an Amended Complaint which the City and Board challenged each filing Motions to Dismiss.
On Jan. 14, 2025, United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey William J. Martini issued an order to dismiss the case, and in doing so, upheld the Board’s decision that the property was subject to rent control due to the Landlord’s failure to provide the required notice of exemption to tenants.
“For years, my administration has invested in housing affordability and fighting corporate landlords who jack up rents and price out tenants from their apartments in Hoboken,” said Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla. “This ruling by the federal court is a major victory for tenants in Hoboken. The Jordan corporate landlord’s attempt at ‘forum shopping’ was an abject failure, as the Court tossed their claims in its entirety and didn’t even entertain their arguments. The City of Hoboken will continue to enforce its rent control ordinance to protect the residents of the Jordan.”
“I want to thank Daniel Antonelli, Esq. of the law firm Antonelli Kantor Rivera and his legal team for their aggressive defense of the Jordan’s continued assault on the rights of tenants in Hoboken,” Bhalla added. “I want to assure Hoboken tenants that we will continue to aggressively defend against corporate landlord attempts to gauge rents and displace families in our community.”
“I am thrilled for the residents of The Jordan who have been fighting for years for their homes for legal Rent Control protections to apply,” said 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen, who represents the residents of The Jordan. “I pledged to the residents of The Jordan that I would stand alongside them, support them, and work with Mayor Bhalla to take on The Jordan’s well-funded corporate landlord that has refused to comply with Hoboken’s rent laws and threatened these 5th Ward residents with eviction and extortionate demand letters. I call on The Jordan’s management — at long last — to comply with Hoboken’s Rent Control Ordinance and be a good neighbor to the people of Hoboken.”
The City of Hoboken continues to offer free legal services to Hoboken tenants in need. Any Hoboken resident having an issue related to tenancy or housing matters can contact Hoboken’s tenant advocate, Andrew Sobel, Esq. who is available by appointment.
To schedule an appointment, go to https://sobelhancannonllp.simplybook.me/v2/. Those seeking an appointment should provide a description of the issue in advance.
