Senator Schumer said yesterday that "there is no way a developer can make this work without massive evictions and massive rent hikes."

As a result, in recent years many residents within the Breukelen community have expressed fears of mass privatization and pending rent hikes.

The location is closed down on August 31, 2001, with the owner claiming economic pressures due to a rent hike.

Barbara Matera Ltd., facing a major rent hike, is contemplating a rent-saving move across the hall, giving up some 3,000 square feet.

And then there was me - living on a salary and newly deputized to Astoria by a cutthroat rent hike in Chelsea.

The proposed rent hike was seen as a violation of the written contract between the employers and the employees.

Even a modest rise in the price of items landlords might purchase is used as an excuse for another round of rent hikes.

That would raise the cost of fixing up an apartment from, say, $8,000 to more than $13,000 - forcing rent hikes of about $40 a month.

That could force families facing rent hikes into the streets.