DOB, FDNY Deliver Bad News to 475 Kent Tenants
After two frustrating weeks, tenants of 475 Kent Avenue finally got to sit down with representatives from the Department of Buildings and the Fire Department on Monday night. And the news wasn’t good. To recap: The FDNY ordered the 200-some-odd tenants out last month after a routine inspection of a street-level pipe led to the…
After two frustrating weeks, tenants of 475 Kent Avenue finally got to sit down with representatives from the Department of Buildings and the Fire Department on Monday night. And the news wasn’t good. To recap: The FDNY ordered the 200-some-odd tenants out last month after a routine inspection of a street-level pipe led to the discovery of an illegal matzo factory being run in the basement by the landlord and assorted other safety violations. On Monday, with the immediate hazard of the basement remedied, the FDNY presented tenants with an extensive punch list of items that have to be brought up to code before anyone is allowed to move back in. According to Councilmember David Yassky, the list would likely take several months to complete, and that’s assuming cooperation from the landlord, a big assumption given the value of the building (which is zoned residential but lacks the proper certificate of occupancy) as a potential condo conversion if he were permanently rid of his tenants. “The agencies are setting an alarming and dangerous precedent by keeping residents of 475 Kent out on these relatively small remaining infractions which I imagine many buildings in New York City also have,” Yassky said. One idea floated by Yassky is for HPD to exercise its right to make building repairs when derelict landlords refuse to do so. It’s unclear whether the necessary political will exists at the city level, so for the time being it appears that 475 Kent’s tenants aren’t going allowed back into their old homes anytime soon.
475 Kent Avenue: How It All Began [Brownstoner]
Big Showing From Pols at 475 Kent Vigil [Brownstoner]
Closing Bell: Moving Out at 475 Kent Avenue [Brownstoner]
‘Commune of Creative Types’ in the Burg is Emptied Out [Brownstoner] GMAP
this landlord is a Brach. Remember his brother Mendel?? as in the famous Finger building, Bed stuy condos with no C of O’s?????? Who says there isn’t a conspiracy. Nothing surprises me. These are not good landlords.
landlords are bad people. Artists are good people (and some of them are damn sexy). Damn the landlord! Give the artists the deed of property. Make matzoh, make love, live cheap. Yeah baby!!!
This is the dawning of the age of aquarius…..y’know, etc….
I agree with 11:37. Let the people back in their homes, get rid of the landlord and let the tenants live in peace.
The landlord is totally at fault here. Unfortunately, I still don’t think that should me the tenants get to go back. I hope the landlord gets fined so much that a condo conversion loses its appeal, because he doesn’t deserve to be rewarded for his behavior.
“You do understand, 2:27, that it was the landlord who actually broke the law by renting commercial/manufacturing units to residential tenants.”
The landlord broke the law, with an assist form the tenants. Don’t tell me they didn’t know what kind of building (illegal warehouse conversion)they were moving into. BOTH the landlord and tenants are wrong.
You do understand, 2:27, that it was the landlord who actually broke the law by renting commercial/manufacturing units to residential tenants.
the tenants are total assholes. self entitled schmucks. they break the law, give money to a crooked landlord, and then instead of hiding shamefully in a corner, they have their hands out.
horrible people. yassky is an ass too.
Seriously, what a boon to the landlord–that just seems unfair. Allow an illegal matzoh factory in your basement. Endanger the lives of all your tenants and possibly even some neighbors. Then, get your pesky long-term tenants kicked out because of your matzoh factory, and your building is primed and ready for a developer to swoop in and do a condo conversion. Maybe god really is listening to all that praying!
There is nothing new to this story. Every building in DUMBO went through its artist abatement phase. It’s part of the legal conversion process. The twist here was the matzo factory sideline, which is pretty cute. Unfortunately for the occupants, NYFD did not “passover” their house.