Photo by Luis Garcia via DNAInfo
The tony National Arts Club is under scrutiny after former employees have unveiled photos of the club's interior, which looks like an episode of Hoarders. They've also dished on the eccentric board president, O. Aldon James. While outsiders see high-brow events and black tie parties, DNAInfo reports the organization may be deteriorating under the allegedly increasingly erratic James.
At the center of the intrigue is the club's landmarked Tilden Mansion, at 15 Gramercy Park South. Apparently some of the apartments in the mansion have been rented out by James, including an 800-square-foot, 2-bedroom to his twin brother, John... for just $356 a month! Other apartments have seemingly become secret hoarding spaces for the brothers, as a series of photographs show. One previous renter, author Lucy Grealy, told NYMag in 2000 that the NAC is "like if David Lynch made a movie of a Henry James novel."
Board members and employees also discussed James' recent behavior, noting that he's recently been firing people "out of the blue," and one member of the board—who has tried and failed to get James to hand over financial records regarding the 40 apartments—claimed, "Our president has gone from eccentric to totally crazy." There are some who stand by him, however, and commend him for maintaining the "soul" of the place. One such man told the website, "In some ways, people think we're the greatest place since chopped liver. Others think, 'What a loony bin.'"
Loony bin or not, it does look like we may have a new Collyer Brothers on our hands. A former employee says, "It's a fire hazard and health hazard to the club. If these guys keep doing this for 10 more years, that building will be destroyed." (And won't someone think about the birds!)
While it's unclear when all the photos were taken, there are a few that are definitely from the past couple of years. An FDNY inspection last year yielded violations for obstructed hallways and exits, however the building was not deemed unsafe.
We've contacted the club's PR firm, and will update with any new information we receive.
