Is someone showing a little too much leg?

The condo board of the Atelier at 635 West 42nd Street is all hot and bothered. The board claims that strip club kingpin Robert Gans is using his unit for business purposes. Sexy business.

The New York Post reports that the board has filed suit against Mr. Gans, whom they allege is operating an escort service out of his apartment. An escort service is apparently a little too sexy for New York's sexiest building.

Showing off one's assets—a glass and steel exterior, white-on-white finishes and river views—is one thing, after all, and spending the night together is another. Although, let's be honest here: the building is bringing a lot of people home. Especially with its "provocative and airy" spaces.

In its suit, the board claims that more than romantic conversations and bottles of wine were being shared inside Mr. Gans's apartment, which is currently being occupied by his "friend" Paula Echervi.

Neighbors got suspicious because Ms. Echervi identified herself as Mr. Gans's girlfriend, but he's married to someone else. Which means ... nothing at all. Sometimes married people hang out with sexy people whom they're not married to.

Mr. Gans, who owns a sprawling strip club in Hell's Kitchen, is said to have purchased the unit as Swingtime LLC. (Did the board think that they were getting a Benny Goodman aficionado?) Best of all: his club is called the Penthouse Executive Club.

If he can bring a little real estate savoir faire into his strip club, why not bring a little strip club savoir faire into his real estate?

What makes the board so sure Ms. Echervi is running an escort service? Ms. Echervi apparently has male guests. At all hours of the night. On nights and weekends. Doesn't it make you yearn for those female boarding houses of yore? When housemothers saw to it that their buildings remained bastions of modesty and decorum by not allowing men above the ground floor?

Maybe the Atelier should institute a similar policy, but who could remain chaste when confronted with seductive amenities like a sky-lit indoor pool, a 12,000-square-foot health club and a rooftop lounge and terraces? And for those who like a little romance, there's a "walk to the river to watch the sunset," according to one of the building's listings.

And brokers thought the name Hell's Kitchen was bad. Soon they'll be calling it Gomorrah.

kvelsey@observer.com

Real estate investor Robert Gans has purchased the shuttered Scores West building at 533-535 West 28th Street, where scantily clad dancers entertained numerous celebrities over the years, ranging from radio host Howard Stern to hockey star Mario Lemieux. (The actor Owen Wilson once pulled up on a bicycle!)

Property records show that Mr. Gans, who also owns the bawdy Penthouse Executive Club on West 45th Street, paid $9.58 million for the 10,000-square-foot venue.

That’s nearly half a million dollars less than prior owners Richard Goldring and Elliot Osher shelled out for the building in 2004—and many, many millions less than the rumored $40 million asking price.

Filings from the Federal Securities and Exchange Commission further reveal that Mr. Gans, who did not return phone calls for comment, has also spent an additional $400,000 to purchase a controlling interest in the holding company that licenses the famous Scores brand name to other clubs around the country.

A supposed club insider writing on an industry message board recently described the new management's aims thusly: "The owners of Penthouse want to bring back the old glory days of lap dances, bringing back the celebrity draw, the great customer service, drop-dead beautiful girls, and just a rip-roarin' great strip club experience. Really, that's what Scores was known for many (MANY) moons ago."

The building is currently undergoing renovations. A sign taped to the door reads: “DO NOT ENTER Construction Workers Only!”

A new liquor license for the venue is "pending," according to the State Liquor Authority.

The infamous club closed last May after regulators yanked its license as a result of a January 2007 police raid in which several employees were arrested on prostitution charges.

Robert Gans, owner of Manhattan's Penthouse Executive Club, has applied for a liquor license at the former Scores West strip club at 533-535 West 27th Street.

Meanwhile, proprietors of the Las Vegas-based strip club Sapphire--who earlier caused such an uproar over plans to open a new location on West 23rd Street--are seeking a license at the original Scores location at 333 East 60th Street.

Both applicants are scheduled to appear before the State Liquor Authority (SLA) next week.

State regulators earlier stripped Scores boss Richard Goldring of his license at the West Side location, after employees were arrested on prostitution charges. The SLA then later announced plans to revoke his license on the East Side as well.

The decline of the once illustrious Scores brand has since been marked by a flurry of lawsuits and bankruptcy filings.

A source close to Mr. Goldring indicated that he is now investing in less risqué hospitality venues.