'Slumlike Conditions' in Foreclosed Slope Building
The Daily News had an article on a group of tenants who live in 294 Fifth Avenue in the Slope and say conditions in the rent-controlled building have deteriorated since the property went into foreclosure a couple years ago and a receiver was appointed to take care of it. The building’s boiler, for example, didn’t…
The Daily News had an article on a group of tenants who live in 294 Fifth Avenue in the Slope and say conditions in the rent-controlled building have deteriorated since the property went into foreclosure a couple years ago and a receiver was appointed to take care of it. The building’s boiler, for example, didn’t work for three weeks this winter, and the front-door lock is broken. Public Advocate Bill de Blasio held a news conference yesterday to support the tenants in seeking a court order that would force the receiver to make repairs. According to the article: “The slumlike conditions at 294 Fifth Ave. spotlight a growing concern: smaller apartment buildings that fall into disrepair in part because the building is overleveraged. ‘We think this is a growing problem around the city that the banks and lenders are not taking responsibility for,’ said de Blasio.”
Park Slope Tenants, de Blasio Team Up to Force Building Repairs [NY Daily News]
I think many here are falsely assuming that if one argues for a modicum of common sense from individuals in a bad situation, one must automatically be condemning those who are less fortunate.
By all means, get the landlord or management company to fix the problems with the heat and plumbing. At the same time, let’s not create an atmosphere where it’s acceptable for able-bodied family to stand by watching their relative’s or neighbor’s situations deteriorate without any action taken.
Conquer the angry man by love.
Conquer the ill-natured man by goodness.
Conquer the miser with generosity.
Conquer the liar with truth.
Alright, before I get dissected, I’m leaving on that high note. 😉
I didn’t read all the comments so maybe this was addressed.
The article states that the building was foreclosed on a few years ago and since then the property has fallen into disrepair. The Landlord here is the BANK.
The issue is ….do banks take on landlord duties once they have foreclosed and seized a property.
Does the congressman have any chance at all in forcing a major banking institution to take on traditional duties of a property owner??? What kind of precedence would this set?
NOW THAT’S A QUOTE OF THE DAY!
Sorry, it was already awarded.
“brOOklyn- what do you say to the people who don’t have the resources to improve their situation, who work hard and don’t make it, who have mental problems, who are overwhelmed by the obstacles they face?
What do you sat to the people who work hard at their job, have to pay for childcare while they work, and only end up with enough money to scrape by, come home exhausted to screaming kids and a messy house, smoke a joint and drink some beers to try and have a moment of quiet before they get up at 6am and start again? When do they become rich? Do you really think *all* those folks have some magic inner strength that will allow them all to somehow magically bust out of that? Are you in favor of 100% inheritance taxes? Could you make it yourself, really and truly on your own? With two kids? Three kids? No degree? No diploma? No savings?
And it’s awful nice of you to be willing to shake that person’s hand. I bet they’re really excited about that. Do you get off the horse first, or do they have to stand on a stepladder?”
NOW THAT’S A QUOTE OF THE DAY!
bfrwell, I don’t think br00klynGuy is talking down to those people. The people you describe do not sound lazy in the least. And yes, sometimes these situations, many times in fact, become overwhelming.
And not to preach, but cetain life choices reguire a degree of responsible thinking, like 3 kids.
“Fixing a lock requires figuring out what the right lock is, the time it takes going out and finding it, paying for it, paying for someone to install it, the time it takes to do that, the coordination and time it takes to get keys to everyone and not have them be locked out, etc. I don’t know that I could do it, less so if I was working”
-Locks sizes are standard,
the only thing to do is to decide if it’s a 2 and 3/8ths inch hole or a 2 and 3/4ths hole. Locks are self adjusting.
That measurement takes about 10 seconds to determine.
-Buying a lock takes about 5 minutes at a 99cent store for 7 bucks or 15 minutes at home depot for 12-50 bucks.
-Asking a fellow tenant, a relative, a community group, a politician or a community police officer too install it takes about 10 seconds.(although in the case of a relative, one shouldn’t have to ask, that’s the whole point.)
By benson on May 10, 2011 12:59 PM
Br00klynguy’s 12.56: QOTD!!!
Seconded.
Sorry, Tabled.