Flatbush Gardens (source: PropertyShark)
In the wake of scathing video footage that has circulated the internet in recent days of alleged hazardous conditions at the Flatbush Gardens housing complex (see the video below), a housing official has informed The Real Deal that the sprawling, 2,500-unit residential development has garnered 400 new violations in the last month-and-a-half, or roughly 10 violations per day.
The added violations bring the 59-building complex’s total to 8,100 current, open violations, according to Eric Bederman, a spokesperson for the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development. The violations “run the gamut,” Bederman said, noting “this is bad — and we’re probably not getting the full extent of it.” HPD violations generally are for unsuitable or dangerous building conditions.
Landlord David Bistricer has filed a dismissal request for reinspection at the rental property, located at 1402 New York Avenue, but Bederman said HPD has yet to hear from him regarding a schedule for the reinspection.
“We’re very aware of these buildings… We’re out there frequently,” Bederman said, adding that his department encourages tenants at troubled buildings to access 311 to draw out inspectors.
Landlord Renaissance Equity Holdings declined to comment on the 400 new violations recorded by the HPD since mid-October.
The video circulated this week, shot and produced by the local union 32 BJ, details alleged hazardous conditions inside several buildings’ basements at Flatbush Gardens. 32 BJ is the governing union for workers at the complex, who have been locked in a bitter dispute with Renaissance since their contract expired in April and Renaissance announced pay cuts. Renaissance confirmed that temporary workers were brought in on Nov. 29.
A spokesperson for Renaissance characterized the video as “an attempt by the union to further frustrate good faith negotiations that the owner of Flatbush Gardens has sought to undertake,” and called the footage’s validity into question.
“The images in the video do not conclusively establish that they are at Flatbush Gardens,” the spokesperson said, adding that Renaissance has made “millions of dollars of capital improvements and apartment renovations” at the complex.
Should the footage be legitimate, the spokesperson said, then the union workers were to blame for not maintaining the sites shown in the video.