Landlord Sentenced to 10 Days in Jail for Building Conditions Unfit for Human Habitation

NYC, Sep 07, 2007

Harlem Tenants Suffer Through Leaks, Fire Hazards, and Worse

Litigators for the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) succeeded in getting jail time for Peter Golia, the managing agent of 2649 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, Manhattan. Housing Commissioner Shaun Donovan today announced that Golia was arrested and was transported to the Tombs Correctional facility where he will begin a 10 day sentence for criminal contempt and up to 10 additional days in jail until his $1,000 contempt fine has been paid. Housing Court Judge Gerald Lebovits found managing agent Peter Golia, owner Stacy Rosenblatt, and 2649 Frederick Douglass Realty Corp. (the "Corporation") guilty of civil and criminal contempt for failing to correct the Housing Maintenance Code violations in 2649 Frederick Douglass Boulevard. The Judge also awarded HPD $151,750 in civil penalties based on the failure of Rosenblatt, Golia, and the Corporation to correct the violations.

"Landlords have a legal obligation to provide safe and decent apartments to their tenants," said Housing Commissioner Shaun Donovan. "HPD will sue landlords who flout the law and seek maximum penalties. A building manager like Peter Golia deserves jail time for letting his tenants suffer through conditions unfit for human habitation."

"I would like to thank Deputy Sheriffs Scali and Rodriguez for their swift action on this case," said Finance Commissioner Martha E. Stark. "Our Sheriffs routinely arrest dead-beat dads, tax cheats and delinquent landlords in order to collect money that is usually long over due. We hope these enforcement mechanisms will force Mr. Golia and others like him to improve living conditions for their tenants."

After inspecting the 13-unit apartment building at 2649 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, the Department of Buildings and HPD issued vacate orders in July 2003 because conditions in the building were dangerous to life, detrimental to the health and safety of the occupants and others, and unfit for human habitation. The HPD order cited cascading water leaks at all stories and in all apartments, exposed electrical wires, a defective and leaky roof, a defective heating system, no enclosure for the boiler, an illegal occupancy in the cellar, defective means of egress (because the stairs were in danger of collapse), accumulation of construction rubbish throughout the building, and rubbish in the rear yard obstructing the second means of egress (the fire escape). The HPD order required the immediate correction of all of these conditions.