Send a message to City Hall, NYC Council & BBP that we CANNOT reward developer/management co. that show a pattern of neglect and housing violations.
We stand with the residents of the Concord Avenue area in their call to support Community Board 1 this Thurs, Nov 19, at 6:00 pm, in VOTING NO on the rezoning of 431 & 437 Concord Avenue from manufacturing to residential (CB1's Land Use Committee already voted no and will recommend the same to the full board on Thursday.) Help us send a message to City Hall, NYC Council and the Borough President that we should not award developers and management companies with zoning change approvals and windfall subsidy packages when they show a clear pattern of neglect and housing violations.
Residents in the area strongly reject the proposed housing project (which stands to receive a $40 million subsidy package) of developer Nissan Cohen of First Concord Realty with Wavecrest Management, pointing to a long and well-documented track record of disregard and unresolved NYC violations that create unsafe conditions:
Nissan Cohen/First Concord Realty LLC: under their ownership of these properties, there have been two fires; unsealed/unsafe buildings precipitating dangerous activity inside; neglected glass, metal debris, used needles and human excrement outside the property; illegal dumping; vermin and rodents.
Wavecrest Management:Slotted to manage the proposed development is Wavecrest Management, which has one of the city's most well-documented patterns of neglect. According to WNYC, the company has "nearly 6,000 open building and housing violations, over 500 of which are immediately hazardous...almost half of the open housing violations in Wavecrest-managed buildings have gone unaddressed for over a year...a 'clear pattern of neglect for basic tenant needs.'"
JOIN THE CB1 MEETING ON THURS, NOV 19, 6 PM, TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY --------------------------------------------------------------- ZOOM LINK Meeting ID: 836 8699 6424
Passcode: 656650
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Or join via telephone, dial-in information is:
+1 929 205 6099
Meeting ID: 836 8699 6424
Passcode: 656650
BACKGROUD -- 431 & 437 CONCORD AVENUE UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF NISSAN COHEN OF FIRST CONCORD REALTY LLC
Records show Nissan Cohen of First Concord Realty LLC acquired 431 Concord Ave and 437 Concord Ave by August of 2017 (link). Prior to Nissan Cohen’s acquisition, both properties were well-maintained.
Since the developer’s purchase, the properties not only fell into disrepair but became extremely derelict and dangerous resulting in the building located at 437 Concord Ave catching fire twice in July 29, 2018 and on Sept 20, 2018. After both fires, the developer did nothing to clean up or secure the property. Instead they left it to become a site for illegal dumping and dangerous activity inside. In addition, the developer Nissan Cohen has $85,000 of unpaid, uncorrected violations.
Since the building caught fire, neighbors, pedestrians, and children on their way to the three nearby schools have been subjected to falling glass, metal and other debris from the burnt building. In addition, the vacant building remained neglected and unsecured, resulting in significant dangerous activity taking place in the building and the adjacent vacant lot, with used hypodermic needles strewn in front of both properties. The vacant lot on 431 Concord Ave was so neglected that it became overgrown with six feet of vegetation that precipitated dumping, attracting rodents which many neighbors had to bear the brunt and cost of exterminating. After years of calling sanitation and 311, neighbors have taken it upon themselves to clean up the empty lot several times over the years in hopes to control the rat problem that was overflowing to neighboring properties. See extensive record of complaints below.
BACKGROUND -- WAVECREST MANAGEMENT
Slotted to manage the proposed development is Wavecrest Management Team Ltd., which has one of the most well-documented patterns of neglect. According to WNYC, “City records list nearly 6,000 open building and housing violations, over 500 of which are immediately hazardous, according to a WNYC analysis in collaboration with JustFix.nyc...almost half of the open housing violations in Wavecrest-managed buildings have gone unaddressed for over a year, and there’s been a 50 percent increase in new violations from 2015 to 2018...shows a “clear pattern of neglect for basic tenant needs” and a “need for greater oversight and code enforcement.” (link here.)
Testimonies against Wavecrest:
“This management company is the worst! We had to go to court 4 times already because they wouldn't fix our apartment. There is a huge rat, a lot of holes, paint that needs to be re-painted again, floors that need to be done, a lot of holes, mold, basically we're living like bums! But be late for rent or miss one month and they'll be on you.” (Yelp)
“I wish I could give this company zero stars i swear. All the staff is rude. I've had noise issues for almost 2 years and I'm in a 1 bedroom with a small child...I contacted management and upper management about the issues I've been having and nobody gets back to you you end up playing a game of cat and mouse without rectification.” (Yelp)
"There are mice running all through the building which the super was informed of being that he left my door open after a repair job and a mouse found its way into my home. I would advise against renting with this company they are very unprofessional and shady and have the most disrespectful staff.” (Yelp).
