However, there is a large community of co-op owners in the area.

The decision was easy compared with the one I made to become a co-op owner in 1984.

And now, nearly two years after the fire, none of the co-op owners have been able to return to their homes.

The whole deal was done with no cash up front from the co-op owners.

The average co-op owner would pay $55 more, rather than the $122 recommended by the board.

And they may be sold at retail for co-op owners.

"These people regard me as if I had some inside track," the new co-op owner said later.

The co-op owners who have already arrived are likely to be a new voice in conversion policy.

The good news is co-op owners will be able to do it themselves.

The co-op owner who paid $160,000 for an apartment a few years ago might be willing to accept, say, $130,000.