He said economic considerations -- rents that are 20 to 25percentt lower than Midtown and financial incentives being offered by the city -- would continue to be uppermost in tenants' decision making.
Mr. Filbert, the mall's manager, said it was big tenants' "business decisions" that killed it: in 2001, Dillard's and J. C. Penney left.
Kathryn Schweiger pointed out that smaller details, such as which lightbulbs are used, are the tenant's decision anyway and out of the landlord's control.
From 1970 Lionel had helped and advised the Notting Hill Housing Trust, the charity working to provide affordable housing for Londoners, and joined its board in 1976, showing a determination to involve tenants in decision-making.
Although by law the mayor has no official role in the annual rent increase decisions, tenant leaders say the Giuliani administration exerts pressure on the board it appoints.
Equally importantly, tenants can make decisions on whether to bid for properties based on what is important to them: school catchment areas and proximity to friends and family may be more significant than their housing situation.
You may not have full authority to make decisions about tenant relationships and services, but these are good suggestions for multi-family owners and partners to consider.
Besides, it has generated empirical information on the agents' operations and influence in the urban housing market which will guide actors' decisions, particularly tenants and landlords on how to access, contract or work with these agents when seeking a housing unit or using their services.
"There have to be some major tenants making the decision to come, and others will follow," Mr. Lerner said.
The tenants hailed the decision as having repercussions far beyond the immediate building, which had drawn considerable attention in large part because of its role in hip-hop.
