15057/Phoenix Towers: Meeting the New Landlord

Phoenix Towers: Meeting the New Landlord
Date of Scene:	01 June 2023
Location:	Phoenix Towers
Synopsis:	Oliver returns to newly purchased Phoenix Towers to meet with the residents and their lawyer, Matt Murdock. Oliver lays out his plans for improving the place.
Cast of Characters:	Matthew Murdock, Oliver Queen

---

Matthew Murdock has posed:
After the surprise sale of the two tower apartment complex, rumors ran rampant among the tenants as to what had happened, and who the owner had sold to. A lot of them were happy to wish the old slumlord a good riddance. But they weren't exactly optimistic that anyone interested in the property was going to do better.

Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson had already been talking to a few of the tenants who had sought the help of Nelson and Murdock to try to get some much needed improvements made to the building. So it is that when a meeting was set up between representatives of the tenants, and the new owner, that one of the lawyers made sure to show up for the meeting.

Matt walks into the small room that was intended to be some kind of community room on the ground floor, but has really just been used for storage. He holds the arm of an elderly woman, Mrs. Martinez. A bit of a firebrand, she was an an easy choice for one of the four representatives that the tenants had sent. "I'm hopeful we might be able to make some progress, whoever it is," Matt says to the tenants. They move over to the table in there and take seats, Matt folding up his cane but leaving it on the table. It helps avoid misunderstandings.

Oliver Queen has posed:
While Oliver Queen might call Star City home and might focus much of his attention there, the simple fact of the matter is that the reach of Queen Consolidated goes well beyong it's 'home city'. And while the residents there might deserve the charitable good works that a corporation -- and the owner behind it -- can manage, they're not the only ones.

Of course things are never quite that easy are they? Already complications are beginning to crop up. But the deal is done, the complications are his to handle and even if he wasn't the owner of this apartment complex, he's not really someone who can just walk away from a problem once he knows about it. The problem is his -- though not necessarily his alone -- until the bitter end at this point.

Which is also why it is Oliver Queen himself that strolls into the lounge that has been repurposed for this tenants meeting instead of one Queen Consoldiated managers or lawyers. He is suited up today -- though not in his preferred green -- and sets down his briefcase near one of the chairs at the front of the room. Chances are that does have his green uniform and fold-out bow in it. But for the moment circumstances demand he play a different role and he starts to circulate among the gathered crowd with a pleasant smile on his face as he introduces himself to the assembled tenants, finally making his way over towards Mrs. Martinez and Matt Murdock, extending his hand in greeting.

"Thank you for making time to come out today. I'm Oliver Queen and I will be your new landlord."

Matthew Murdock has posed:
There's a few murmurs among the tenants, with at least one or two comments that suggest there might have been a rumor that Oliver Queen was the new owner, but apparently people hadn't believed it. He had walked right into the building with Emiko and and a few from his corporate entourage. But the one teen who insisted it was Oliver Queen, hadn't been believed.

Matt rises to his feet as the tenants each introduce themselves. Mrs. Matrinez introduces herself, and then says, "This is Matthew Murdock, who is representing a few of the tenants." Matt reaches out his hand in front of him. "Nelson and Murdock is our firm," he offers to Oliver along with his hand.

One of the other tenants, a man in his forties with brown hair and beard, says, "We weren't really expecting, well. Someone like you. Is this, did your corporation buy the apartment buildings?" he asks.

One of the other tenants, an older man of about sixty says, "Are you just taking the real estate and tearing it down for something else?" Worried babble breaks out between the people.

Oliver Queen has posed:
"Of course Mrs Martinez. A pleasure to meet you. And you as well Mr. Murdock. We will have some corrrespondence going out shortly to all the tenants regarding the change in ownership. I will make sure that copies are provided to your firm as well so that you can review them," Oliver says pleasantly. So far so good.

Of course he has only made it through a small porition of the crowd as others begin to gather around, word spreading that the unlikely rumors of just who has bought the building are very much true. And so the press of people nearby grows considerably. As well as that initial barrage of questions.

It's not the most orderly sort of presentation at this point, but it's hard to fault any of them. These are their homes afterall, and Oliver is already getting a pretty good picture of just how badly the previous ownership treated some of them. And the fact that some of the problems might not be easily banished just because of a change in ownership.

"Please, one at a time," Ollie says, holding up his hands, his tone remaining genial. "I'm happy to answer any and all questions that I can. But to summarize, yes, Queen Consolidated has purchased this building as an extension of a program that we have begun in Star City as well. The intent is not to tear down your building. Just hte opposite. We hope to renew it and update it. There will be no renovictions or anything of that like. A number of our employees call this building home too and we are looking forward to making all of you a part of the Queen Consolidated family. And treating you as such."

Matthew Murdock has posed:
That causes a babble of excited conversation among the tenants. The kind of news that most of them would not have even let themselves believe when they super had first said the old landlord had sold the place, but didn't have more information to share with them yet.

The older man appears rather curmudgeonly, looking at it for negatives. "And once the place is improved, what is going to happen to the rent? We're already paying for facilities we don't have. Elevators that work less than half the time. Once you make improvements, are you going to be raising the price until the current tenants can't afford it?" he asks.

Matt doesn't speak up for now. It's one of those moments he might try to help calm the man with a look. But that's not really a forte of the blind man's, unable to make eye contact or not as skilled at conveying emotions with his face.

Oliver Queen has posed:
This might not have been exactly how Oliver planned to handle things -- and it might have been one of the reasons the Board would have preferred to send a different representative, but at the very least he can present a genuine response. Straight from the horse's mouth. Call him crazy, but the billionaire is pretty sure that is what these people need more than some slick, market-tested presentation.

"A fair question," he says, locking his gaze on the older man who refuses to be easily placated. "First off, the hope will be that as the improvements go into effect you will have access to everything your rent is supposed to cover. Including working elevators and timely repairs to your units when something goes wrong," he says, raising his voice just a little to cut through the hum of conversation around them.

He might have not had quite the same sympathy for these concerns once. Living years on a deserted island iwth no working plumbing, well, it kinda changes one's outlook on things.

"As to rent, we intend to continue to respect the existing rent control standards that are in place. But there is no intention to seek any sort of rent hikes of any sort for the first three years /after/ the proposed improvements are completed. We understand that you have been through a trying time with the previous ownership. Our intention here is to make things better and more stable for all of you," he hastens to assure them.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
There's more conversation among the tenants. Some nodding of heads, others seeming reluctant or perhaps skeptical. A few of the conversations get a little bit louder as some of the people seem to be disagreeing with each other.

Matthew Murdock clears his throat to help quiet those near to him. "Mr. Queen. I'm sure you have seen for yourself some of the issues the building is facing. Or, smelled them even," he says. The lobby does smell like urine. Probably some people using the stairwell as a bathroom, whether they live there or not.

Matt goes on. "One of the major issues though is the drug use and drug dealing that goes on. Just walking in here, I could the plastic crack and heroine vials breaking under people's feet."

Mrs. Martinez gives an emphatic nod. "Calling the police hardly does any good, and if they know who called they are going to take it out on people."

Matt reaches over, gently resting his hand on the older Latina's arm. "Do you have any plans for how to remove that element from dealing and using in and around the building?"

Oliver Queen has posed:
Oh yes, Ollie is only too well aware. Some of those problems are going to have to be dealt with after hours as it were. In green leather and with a bow in hand. But that's not really a discussion to have out in the open. Other assurances will have to be given there.

"I've seen some of the reports," the billioanire agrees with a nod of his head -- instinctive despite the fact that the lawyer is quite clearly blind. His tone grows a little less cordial, a little more serious. "Security is the first area of improvement that we will be looking to deal with. The lobby will be going to a passcard system and a surveillance system will be installed and monitored at all times. We will be hiring a number of security guards as well so that there is someone always on duty both in the lobby and monitoring the surveillance feeds," he notes, listing off some of the preparations that will be put into place to deal with that particular problem.

The vigilante approach is not brought up. It's just a fringe benefit.

"Keeping them out of the building is the first priority. Unfortunately changing the atmosphere of the entire neighborhood is a much more complex, much more long term issue to be tackled but Queen Consolidated hopes to be involved there as well. We understand that this is not a short term fix and that it will involve more then justa committment to one building. We are committed to the entire neighborhood," he says with quiet confidence.

In the short term, Ollie has found that a large number of arrows in the bad guys tend to make them shy away. He's more than happy to start there.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
More quiet conversations ensue as people discuss this. Mrs. Martinez leans over and says something quietly to Matthew Murdock. The blind lawyer gives her a nod back as if in agreement.

He tends to speak quietly, and the tenants knowing he's a lawyer that some of their fellows have retained, their discussions with each other quickly grow quiet as Matt speaks in his deep, often nearly monotone voice. "It sounds like Mr. Queen and his corporation are going to attempt improvements. Which is more than Mr. Johansen did from what I've heard." He pauses to give time for a number of the people to nod and murmur their agreement.

"It isn't a small amount of issues to deal with. I suggest giving Mr. Queen time. Perhaps, Mr. Queen, forming a tenant's board to help advise you on issues, and how improvements are coming along, might be to everyone's benefit?" Matt suggests.

Oliver Queen has posed:
It is a fact of life that no matter how quickly some of the improvements are implimented, some people will not be happy. There's not a lot that can be done about that. But it always helps to have people's good will. That is something that Oliver Queen has learned both in his public face as the head of QUeen Consolidated and in his more secret, nocturnal life as well.

"It is not. Some of them we can get started on right away of course. There should be maintenance men in by the end of the week to start repairing the broken elevators and making sure the others are as well maintained as possible in the interim. On site security will be brought in at the same time to try and make the building a little safer in the interim," he says to Matt, going over the first steps.

"There will be a full proposed timeline laid out in the letter that we will be sending to all the tenants along with your lawfirm Mr. Murdock. It will be proposing a tenant board as well to consult and advise on the process. Obviously those that live here, who call this neighborhood home each and every day are in a good position to know what is most needed and we will take their recommendations seriously," he agrees without hesitation.

Matthew Murdock has posed:
Mrs. Martinez turns and looks around the room, taking the temperature of the other tenants. There are more nods than negative or neutral looks, and she turns back to Oliver. "Mr. Queen, I just hope that you're going to be true to your words. There's a lot of us here that aren't the most trustful after what we've gone through. But we'll give you time to live up to your words. And we appreciate that you're showing the interest in us that you are," she tells Oliver. A number of the other residents nod, more than don't.

Matt gives a small nod of his head, as if to signify his approval of how the matter has gone. "Thank you for taking the time from your schedule to come down here, Mr. Queen. You've probably already spent more time in the building than Mr. Johansen did in the last six months."

A number of murmurs tell the truth of Matt's statement. "If I or my partner can be of any assistance, please let us know," Matt says, pulling out a business card to slide over to Oliver with the contact info for Nelson and Murdock.

Oliver Queen has posed:
It's a good first step. Or really a second step, after buying the building at all. But getting the tenants on his side, or at least willing to withhold judgement to see how things go will make things go more smoothly. Now he just has to deliver.

That might prove to be more of a challenge, given the criminal element that seems to dominate this particular neighborhood. Fortunately Oliver has some experience with that and he offers Mrs. Martinez a nod -- clearly she has some sway among the tenants -- before taking Matt's offered card and tucking it away. "I understand. It will be a process and I definitely understand some of the trust issues that you and your fellow tenants might have. I'm confident that you'll agree soon enough that better times are ahead," he says, his tone reflecting that same confidence. He sounds sincere at least.

"It has been a pleasure Mrs. Martinez, Mr. Murdock. I will be in the city for a few more days at the minimum and you should have the letter before I leave so if there is anything that needs to be reviewed or tweaked we should be able to take care of that promptly," he assures them. "Enjoy the rest of your day and I look forward to seeing all of you again soon," he says, lifting a hand as he starts back towards the front of the room to retrieve his briefcase.

Now the legtimate, daytime business has been addressed. Next up, the Green Arrow and allies can get involved.