Tenants facing eviction from their lofts at 131-135 Duane Street took their cause to the street last month in hopes of bringing attention to their pending case and embarrassing one of the building's owners, Henry Meer.

		Meer, a noted chef and the owner of City Hall Restaurant, located on the ground floor of the building, is the managing partner of Duane Street Realty, which is seeking to rid the building of its long-time loft tenants, gut the structure and possibly turn it into a condominium hotel. The tenants, along with about two dozen supporters from the lobbying group Lower Manhattan Loft Tenants, began their vigil in front of the building at 7:30 a.m. on April 20. Although the restaurant is known for its "power breakfasts" attended by high-level city officials, few customers stopped in. Those who did seemed oblivious to the placards that confronted them. Banners, affixed to the façade of the building in front of each loft, identified the profession of the tenants living inside. Most of the tenants in the five-story, eight-loft building are artists who have lived there for more than 25 years and
most are over 60 or close to it. Bruce Porter, a painter who teaches at Hunter College, turned 61 on the day of the demonstration. "I'm thinking, God, I'm 61 years old and the absurdity that I'm handing out fliers," he said. "I want to take this and fight it with everything I've got but I don't want to kill my psyche about it. And I'm trying to keep my blood pressure from going ballistic." Duane Street Realty is seeking approval from the state's Department of Housing and Community Renewal to evict the tenants through a provision in the rent stablilization law that allows for evictions when the owner intends "to demolish all of the apartments located in the subject building." In court documents, Duane Street Realty argues that the law is clearly on their side, with numerous precedents supporting them. The tenants' lawyer, Robert Petrucci, says that the law was never meant to include buildings like theirs. If the DHCR rules against them, the tenants say they intend to appeal. Meer, who lives in the building with his wife and baby, did not return a call seeking comment for this article. But in a brief interview in March, he told the Trib that he had only a "small part" in the ownership and bemoaned the fact that he would have to relocate like the others. City Councilman Alan Gerson, who appeared at the protest along with representatives of Assemblywoman Deborah Glick and State Senator Martin Connor, requested a meeting with Meer. Late last month Gerson told the Trib that Meer had turned him down. "He claims that his business agreement limits him and prevents him from taking responsibility and discussing who the partners are and the details," Gerson said. "Without seeing that agreement, as a lawyer I can't comment. But one way or another someone has to take responsibility." In September, 2002, Meer signed a $25,000 agreement with the Sunshine Group, marketers of luxury condominiums and condominium hotels, for a preliminary marketing study for an "extended stay concept" for 131 Duane Street. The study was to look into a "potent new luxury brand based on the association with City Hall Restaurant." A copy of the signed agreement, obtained by the Trib, names two partners with Meer in the proposed project: wealthy financier Martin Gruss of Gruss & Co. and his son Joshua Gruss, who works for the family firm. Martin Gruss and his wife Audrey, prominent fixtures in New York and Palm Beach, FL society, are major contributors to Lincoln Center, the Israel Museum and other causes. Joshua Gruss, 30, lives at 39 North Moore St. with his wife, designer Shoshana Lonstein. The couple's marriage last year made the gossip columns, both for the lavishness of their wedding and because Lonstein, 28, is the former girlfriend of comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Martin Gruss did not return a call for comment. But in a telephone interview, the younger Gruss acknowledged that he and his father are investors in 131-135 Duane Street. He called their part in it "small." "We have no decision making in the process. We're just along for the ride," Gruss said. As for Meer, he said, "I don't know how much of a role he plays but I don't think it's very large." Asked about plans for the building, Gruss referred the reporter to Meer. Gruss would not name other investors in the project. "You're trying to place the blame on someone and I'm not going to let you know," he said. "But there shouldn't be any blame placed on anyone." Gruss defended the eviction actions, saying that the owners were abiding by the law. Although he said he did not know the amount, Gruss said the tenants have been given a "substantial" offer to move, a claim the tenants vigorously deny. "Nobody should be crying for them," Gruss said.