Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

W Hotel Apartment Winner Hit With $1,400 a Month in Taxes and Fees, Report Says

By Ben Fractenberg | December 3, 2010 11:54am

By Ben Fractenberg

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

FINANCIAL DISTRICT — The college student thrilled to win a $1.5 Million New York apartment for free may be having second thoughts after learning he'll be stuck with the maintenance bills as well as the taxes for it.

Adam Venckauskas, 21, will have to pay $1,400 a month in taxes and maintenance on his 900-square-foot bachelor pad, the New York Post reported Friday.

Venckauskas won the condo in the Financial District’s posh W Hotel from HGTV’s Urban Oasis giveaway. He also scored a brand new Acura ZDX, presumably tacking on additional costs if he ever wants to park it in lower Manhattan.

It's unclear whether the fees and taxes are going to be a burden for the college senior, who picked up the keys and the deed to the place on Thursday.

Adam Venckauskas, 21, upon being told that he had won an apartment in the W New York Downtown.
Adam Venckauskas, 21, upon being told that he had won an apartment in the W New York Downtown.
View Full Caption
HGTV

Venckausakas isn't even going to be able to live in the apartment full time, since he's currently finishing up his studies at the University of Central Florida. He told the Post he plans to stay in his new digs whenever he has some time off from studying.

"I've got to focus on school work, but whenever I have a long weekend, I'll come up," Venckauskas told the Post. "Everything is modern, and it's great. This could feel like home."

Venckauskas was picked out of 15.5 million entries to win the apartment, which was furnished by interior designer Vern Yip.

"I entered in every single day of the contest, and he entered it just once," said his mother, Genevieve Venckauskas. "I think I'm off the hook for Adam's graduation present."