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Two Savoy Park tenants contracted Legionnaires’ disease
NYC Dept. of Health to test water supply at affordable Harlem complex
Two cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been identified in the last 10 months at Fairstead Capital’s recently-acquired Savoy Park apartment complex in Harlem, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
In a letter sent to tenants at 2300 Fifth Avenue on July 18, the department announced it would begin testing the water at the building, following existing protocol that requires an investigation when two or more instances of the disease occurs at a single address in 10 months or less. It’s the only building in the seven-building complex where the disease has been identified.
Notice to tenants of 2300 Fifth Avenue: 
The two Legionnaires’ cases at Savoy Park are the first reported incidents in the city since an outbreak last August, when more than 100 incidents of the illness were tied to cooling towers in the South Bronx. Officials said 94 people were hospitalized during the outbreak and 10 died. NBC New York first reported on the illnesses at Savoy Park.
Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia caused by a bacteria that thrives in fresh water. It is known to contaminate water tanks and especially, air conditioning cooling towers. Savoy Park, however, does not have such a cooling tower and the city’s investigators have yet to discover the source of the bacteria that has recently infected the two Harlem residents, who city officials said have since both recovered from their illnesses.
A representative for Fairstead did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Fairstead closed on the purchase of Savoy Park — an 1,800 unit rental complex built in the 1950s — earlier this month for $315 million. Fairstead received a $238.9 million Freddie Mac loan from the multifamily finance division of Capital One Bank. The previous owners, L+M Development Partners [TRDataCustom] and Savanna, had been shopping a stake in the property with an offering memo that cited great revenue potential from the turnover of rent-stabilized apartments.