Neglectful Brownstone Owner Under Fire
Back in 2007, a reader posted a “What’s the Deal?” question about the boarded up brownstone in Park Slope. Today, the Brooklyn Paper tackles the topic. Neighbors have been complaining about the eyesore and potential safety hazard at 174 Garfield Place for many years, but now Council Members Lander and Levin are getting into the…
Back in 2007, a reader posted a “What’s the Deal?” question about the boarded up brownstone in Park Slope. Today, the Brooklyn Paper tackles the topic. Neighbors have been complaining about the eyesore and potential safety hazard at 174 Garfield Place for many years, but now Council Members Lander and Levin are getting into the act, calling on the Bank of New York to force the owner, a real estate investor named Peter Saltina, to fix up or get out. “It is within the bank’s power to urge [Saltina] to fix it up, or put it in the hands of a responsible owner,” Lander told The Brooklyn Paper. “We want to turn this building into an asset to our community rather than a hazard.” Saltina responded with the kind of attitude that has endeared him to the community all along: “Let them complain…I’ve been here since 1969 and dealing with these people has made my skin thick.” According the article, Saltina claims to have a verbal agreement to sell the house, though he’s played that card before to no end. In the meantime, someone could get hurt or killed: Apparently big chunks of cement recently fell into the front yard next door. Hopefully the Councilmen can run this jerk out of town.
Neighbors Want to Save Decrepit Building From Owner [Brooklyn Paper]
Creepy Unoccupied House on Garfield? [Brownstoner]
Photo circa 2006 from Property Shark
The neglected brownstone on Garfield Place as well as the neglected brownstones on Third Street and Berkeley Place offer excellent examples of why it is imperative to expand the boundaries of the Park Slope Historic District. Besides protecting Park Slope from irresponsible developers, living within a historic district protects its residents from irresponsible homeowners.
If the Park Slope Historic District’s borders were extended so that this and the other two brownstones were located in the District, the owners of the three buildings could be forced to prevent their historic structures from deteriorating further. According to The Landmarks Preservation Commission website, “The owner of a landmarked building is responsible for maintaining the property in ‘good repair.'” Building owners who violate this regulation can be fined and/or imprisoned.
I live just down from the building. It’s not just an eyesore, it’s a hazard. I, my children and I have seen other people fall over the sidewalk stones in the snow. I watch parents struggle over the flagstones as they try to walk up the street. There is trash in the front yard, falling pieces of wood and the direct neighbours are paying for the upkeep of the safety of the building. So is this really none of our business?
“MIlkshake, where in the world did you find that article?????”
Slick – I googled the address and the NY time archive popped up.
Is he making payments on this property?
if not, then doesn’t the bank forclose.
also, if there are violations on this (obviously), the city isn’t doing anything really…about it…..
and what about the Landmark Tavern property, again, violations aren’t doing anything to remedy either of these horiffic properties
I think these abondoned properties if abondened a certain amout of time should automatically be the property of the city.
i guess the city is just waiting for a death to then finally do something about it.
slick, take a look at the photo of this house and re-read your comment.
if i were a betting man, the elderly people who are holding these properties are waiting to leave it to their children.
The tax consequences of selling it now would be significant. (Theres no homeowner’s exemption because its not a residence.)
MIlkshake, where in the world did you find that article?????
It’s not about dollars and cents, it’s about mental illness. I don’t know why people find that difficult to understand. Many of these owners have Collyer Brothers syndrome (google it). They are hoarders. They can’t let go of last week’s newspaper much less their house.
It’s a shame and there are no medicines for it.
What a JackAss!
I agree with what MM said above – it’s a decaying house on a busy street!
What’s more strange is the guy only owns $230K left on the mortgage and probably could sell the house for at least 800K?
no?