Guttman Stiffs City, Lives to Build Another Day

If you speak even a little German, the irony of Joshua Guttman’s name won’t be lost on you. A New York Post article yesterday served as yet another reminder of why the “Good Man” is one of, if not the, most reviled property owners in New York City today. As most readers know, complaints from tenants and those unfortunate enough to have bought a condo from him are myriad. But it’s the city itself that’s gotten the biggest shaft from Guttman. According to The Post, Guttman and his family owe about $60,000 in unpaid DOB fines and more than $50,000 in overdue property taxes. All of that’s small potatos, though, compared to the $4.7 million in fines he owes for 434 counts of failing to maintain the waterfront area at the Greenpoint Terminal Market, scene of 2005’s ten-alarm fire. With Guttman scheduled to appear in court over the Greenpoint charges again on Thursday, a Post reporter took a boat tour of the waterfront property and observed “no apparent repairs.” Surprising? No. Appalling? Yes.
Blaze-Site Developer Unscarred by Penalties [NY Post]
Guttman: Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Off To Court He Goes [Brownstoner]