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Residential
New York

HPD sues East Harlem landlord over outstanding violations

Residents at 231 East 117th St. say the building has lacked gas for a year

231 East 117th Street (Credit: Google Maps)
231 East 117th Street (Credit: Google Maps)

An East Harlem landlord accused of operating a hazardous building is being dragged before a judge.

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development is suing George Zayas, the managing agent at 231 East 117th Street, in an attempt to force him to correct numerous violations and pay thousands of dollars in fines, according to DNAinfo.

Residents of the building have long complained of a rat infestation and a lack of basic utilities. For instance, they claim that the building hasn’t had consistent cooking gas since 2016. ArchRock Management manages the building.

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Now, the city agency is pushing Zayas to fix more than 130 outstanding citations, 26 of which are considered “immediately hazardous.” Vito Mastaciuolo, HPD’s deputy commissioner for enforcement and neighborhood services told DNAinfo that Zayas is being fined $7,800 – but the number could soon rise dramatically.

“We actually filed a lawsuit in Housing Court this week against your landlord,” Mastaciuolo told Marie Miranda, one of several residents who have also sued Zayas and co-owner Yehuda Ruzorsky.

The current owners paid just over $9 million for the property in late 2016, city records show. The building was once a part of the Dawnay Day portfolio. [DNAinfo] – Christopher Cameron

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Tenant Abuse