Forum Archive

While viewing yet another of what must be many dozens of short sales in Bushwick last week, I noticed the house across the street at 1343 Greene is empty and abandoned and broken into. Its beautiful original historic double doors had been rammed with a tree trunk, still sitting on the porch, and the glass was broken. Naturally, there was an unread garbage fine ticket for $100 from the city attached to the broken-in door. The owner of this abandoned and neglected property is Deutsche Bank National Trust. I am going to call them today to tell them their property is being ruined, but I know how these banks work and it will take them months to respond if they ever do. Meanwhile, a poster named ricmac01 on BushwickBK informs us that of the 34 hoursses on Woodbine St. between Broadway and Bushwick Avenues, ten are empty or for sale and five are boarded up. I live in Bushwick and nearly every block has at least one for sale sign, and a quick check of PropertyShark reveals many foreclosures. The NY Daily News also reported a story about this Sunday. Retail along Broadway has hardly come back since the fires 30 years ago. With houses being abandoned like this, the crime rate is likely to soar. This hurts everybody. I am going to call Make the Road today and see if they are already doing something and if I can help. They seem like the most likely organization to:
*Advocate for homeowners to do anything possible to keep them in their homes.
*If that’s not possible, get the banks to use management companies to rent out the properties rather than have them sit empty.
*Encourage a Thai restaurant and a tacqueria to open up on Broadway.
I would also love to quickly survey homeowners in the area to find out the myriad reasons for the foreclosures. I will keep you posted. Also, if anyone is interested in these issue, they should attend that “New York for Sale” lecture tonight that Brownstoner posted about yesterday. Unfortunately, I have another appointment.