Ruling faults landlord for neglect in Chinatown

New York State’s Division of Housing and Community Renewal ordered the landlord of 128 Hester Street in Chinatown to pay more than $1 million
to nine families who were displaced from their rent-regulated homes
last August, after the demolition of the building due to the
landlord’s neglect. The ruling was seen as a victory for affordable
housing advocates and rent-regulated tenants. While the tenants at
128 Hester Street had complained about the deteriorating building conditions
to the Department of Buildings on numerous occasions since 2005, the landlord ignored previously issued
violations. Additionally, the landlord failed to protect the building from the impact of nearby
hotel construction, resulting in over 30 violations for unsafe
building conditions. The landlord ultimately called DOB on himself and managed to evict all
the tenants and demolish the building. TRD