Marina Heights at dusk, with the surcharge visible over the roofline.Photo: Wazel News
Tenants of Marina Heights, the 400-unit tower on the east harbor, received notice on Monday that their rent will rise by $85 a month under a new "lunar view surcharge," on the grounds that the building has "unobstructed access to the moon."
The notice, signed by the building's owner, Dellacroix Residential, states that the moon is "visible from all units on clear nights" and that "comparable buildings do not offer this." It takes effect, the notice says, "at the next full moon."
What the lease says
Marina Heights leases include a clause allowing the landlord to charge for "amenities added after signing." Dellacroix argues the moon qualifies because the building "did not previously market it." Tenants argue the moon was there when they moved in, "and before that, honestly."
A tenants' association formed on Monday evening in the lobby, under the moon, and has retained a lawyer who says she has "never had to establish who owns the moon before, but is fairly sure it isn't Dellacroix."
"They've charged us for the gym we don't use and the pool that's a pond. I'll give them the moon. I draw the line at the tide."
— Marina Heights tenant, 14th floor
The notice, as taped to 400 doors. The moon is spelled correctly, which tenants found 'almost worse.'
The tide
The notice does, in fact, mention the tide. A second surcharge, "harbor rhythm," of $20 a month is listed as "pending review." Dellacroix told Wazel News the tide surcharge is "a placeholder" and that the company "has no immediate plans to monetise the sea."
Asked whether the company had plans to monetise the sea at a later date, it said it would "revisit that at the next full moon."
City hall responds
The city's housing office said it is "reviewing whether celestial bodies are amenities" and expects an answer "within a lunar month, which we now realise is the wrong unit." Councilwoman Pia Serrano has proposed an emergency bylaw declaring the moon "a public good, visible to all, surcharge-free," which the harbor board, now including a pelican, is expected to support.
Dellacroix shares are not listed on the LSX. The moon, as far as Wazel News can establish, is not either.