After city raid, 475 Kent “ain’t gonna be condos any time soon”

A former matzo factory in Williamsburg made notorious in 2008 when more than 150 residents were temporarily evicted over dozens of building code and zoning violations was raided by the city this morning, according to Gothamist and the Village Voice. Sources said Fire Department officials were joined by officials from the Department of Buildings and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office today in breaking into the office of building landlord Nachman Brach, who has long been rumored to be planning a condo conversion there. It seems that plan might be on hold, as Gothamist overheard one DA official say to another, “this ain’t gonna be condos any time soon.” Some observers at the scene said they saw the officials using sledgehammers to forcibly enter the premises while Brach hid and refused to open the door. A Village Voice source said there are rumors that Brach is under criminal investigation, possibly for tax evasion. One DOB official said there are no current plans to re-evict any of the residents at 475 Kent. Brach wasn’t immediately reachable for comment. [Gothamist] and [Village Voice]