A landlord who bought a notorious Bronx building with plans to rehab it is under arrest after allegedly interfering with the city’s own efforts.
Erik Clayton allegedly repeatedly tried to remove a court-appointed administrator at 1663 Garfield Street, a reported drug-dealing hub, and allegedly refused to give over $12,000 in rent.
Clayton bought the three-story rental building in 2010 and told reporters at the time he planned to clean it up, Crain’s reported.
In 2014, the city took outright control of the property through a different program, and appointed an administrator.
Clayton sold the property earlier this year. He was ordered to jail for 60 days unless he pays the $12,000.
Property investors spent $2.4 billion in the bronx last year, up from $1.1 billion the year before, according to a report by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.’s office. [Crain’s] — Ariel Stulberg