So after we posted yesterday about Public Advocate Bill de Blasio’s new watch-list of lousy landlords, and pointed out that Sheepshead Bay was in the clear, we got a call from his office. It turns out that those outer-outerborough neighborhoods aren’t as safe as it seems, and we may indeed have our own flat fuehrers.
According to the de Blasio staffer, the watchlist does not include every landlord or building that would qualify, just the ones that the office was made aware of. We still don’t know why the only ones they’re aware of came from a particular stretch of neighborhoods – but who cares? This is good news; it means Sheepshead Bay can join the party!
If you’ve got a cruddy landlord who may have violations from the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, let the Public Advocate’s office know. They will add your building to the map, and try to spread the word and pressure the owner into better practices.
You can call the Public Advocate’s office at (212) 669-7200 or report a building on the website.
Screenshot of map of worst landlords, taken from Public Advocate's website
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio’s latest initiative, a compilation of New York City’s worst landlords, is burdened by one conspicuous yet unmentioned fact: the vast majority of slum lords operate along the Brooklyn-Queens and Bronx-Manhattan borders.
It was the first thing that caught my attention when I brought up the map of offending landlords created by his office. Manhattan and Staten Island remain, for the most part, clear. And so do the outer areas of the outerboroughs. But clusters of pink tabs congregate like a herpes outbreak around those sticky parts rubbing against their neighbors.
Sheepshead Bay, for its part, is totally in the clear. In fact, the only pin in all of Southern Brooklyn is in Coney Island, at 2766 West 15 Street. It’s a building owned by Henry Wright, a 70-infraction piker when compared to the city’s top slumlord, who has 1049 infractions.
Brooklyn is home to the most troubled buildings, though. We’ve got 96 out of 164 citywide. But, again, they’re almost universally located in the north of the borough.
So what’s with that? Why are they in such cruddy shape? And, in your experience, how do Sheepshead Bay’s landlords fare?
With all the rah-rah over the newly-renovated Cherry Hill side of the Lundy’s building, it’s easy to forget the rest of the enormous landmark. The forgotten parts are in dire need of some TLC.
As the years have gone by, the facade has taken a beating, and the building’s trademark awnings are ratty and stained. The stains that are on those awnings must be hard to remove, because even on some of the renewed awnings, light stains can be seen.
The other restaurants that are housed in the buildings don’t seem to be too concerned about the eyesore awnings. It might be, though, a matter of budget.
Whatever it is, now that the awnings on one half of the building are shiny and re-newed, the old ones just stick out so much more.
With all the talk at civic meetings about giving back to the ‘community’, it’s a wonder that the Cherry Hill Gourmet Market didn’t clean up the rest of the building’s facade when they were renovating their side. We know they don’t have to, but we’re thinking that such a goodwill gesture just might endear them a little to those who they perceive to be against them.
It also calls the responsibilities of the owners of the building into question. Don’t the owners need to be concerned about losing tenants, if the landmark building looks brand-spanking new on one side and sad and beaten on the other side?
