Protest in East Harlem

Tenants fight plans by newest landlord, a British company, as it invests $225M to buy and upgrade buildings

April 4, 2007

In its first foray into the American real estate market, a British corporate giant that is spending more than $200 million for dozens of buildings in Harlem encountered a storm of protest yesterday - from tenants in the neighborhood.

"They have a plan to gentrify East Harlem. And that means rent increases," said Juan Haro, head of the Movement for Justice in El Barrio.

East Harlem real estate buy angers tenants; U.K. firm denies planning big rent hikes

04/4/07

NEW YORK — In its first foray into the American real estate market, a British corporate giant that is spending more than $200 million for dozens of buildings in Harlem encountered a storm of protest Tuesday — from immigrant tenants in the neighborhood.

"They have a plan to gentrify East Harlem. And that means rent increases," said Juan Haro, head of the Movement for Justice in El Barrio.

Protesting tenants pasted a giant letter onto the front door of a building where they send their checks, urging the new landlord not to increase rents.

Landlord and Rising Rent Fears in El Barrio

AUGUST 27, 2007

Yesterday, East Harlem residents protested "greedy landlords" to raise concerns about gentrification. One resident, Otoniel Santiago, told amNew York that his $1,100 rent for his family's two-bedroom has zoomed up to $3,000 because of extra charges his landlord has added, "They said I had to pay or they would take legal action. I think they want us to get tired and move out, then they will bring in people who will pay $1,700 a month."

Harlem tenants put landlord on notice

Thursday, April 5th 2007, 10:36 AM

It is not exactly cheap anymore, but East Harlem - or El Barrio - is still one of the few areas in the city where working class New Yorkers can afford to live.

But some powerful interests are doing their best to follow an all-too-common pattern: They want to turn this traditionally immigrant neighborhood into another absurdly expensive, gentrified area.

It's not going to be easy.

When your landlord is the nabe's Grinch

December 14, 2005

Christmas in El Barrio ... For Micaela Ortega and her 3-month-old daughter, condemned by their landlord to shiver with cold in their own home, it is not going to be a season of warm and loving feelings.

"Last year it was the same thing," the shy Mexican woman said, while her little daughter cried in the background. "This year, we have been covering the baby with blankets and we bought two electric heaters, but they are not enough."

Tenants take on El Barrio landlord

June 9, 2005

'We are tired of being ignored," said Paula Serrano, a 26-year-old Mexican mother of three, who lives in El Barrio.

She was voicing the feelings of the residents in hers and two other buildings also located in El Barrio, and owned by the same landlord, Steve Kessner, of R.E. Management.

Serrano, a house cleaner, said they were not going to endure the landlord's negligence and disrespect anymore.

Landlord and Rising Rent Fears in El Barrio

August 27, 2007

Yesterday, East Harlem residents protested "greedy landlords" to raise concerns about gentrification. One resident, Otoniel Santiago, told amNew York that his $1,100 rent for his family's two-bedroom has zoomed up to $3,000 because of extra charges his landlord has added, "They said I had to pay or they would take legal action. I think they want us to get tired and move out, then they will bring in people who will pay $1,700 a month."

Tenants of Foreclosed East Harlem Buildings File Lawsuit Over Alleged Neglect

March 22, 2010

Tenants living in the foreclosed properties of Dawnay Day filed suit against the current property manager Monday.

EAST HARLEM — Tenants living in a collection of foreclosed East Harlem properties formerly owned by a real estate firm that went bankrupt last year filed suit on Monday to remove the current property manager over allegations it is neglecting the buildings.

Tenants seek ouster of Harlem property manager

March 19, 2010

Tenants at a 47-building apartment complex in East Harlem that was put into foreclosure in August, will march Sunday afternoon outside the offices of property manager EH Property Management Inc. to rally for the company's removal. In addition, the tenants are threatening to file a lawsuit Monday to ask the state Supreme Court to remove EH Property Management from the position.

A WARNING TO SLUMLORDS IN EL BARRIO

Sunday, October 22th 2006

ABUSIVE LANDLORDS, be warned: The Movement for Justice in El Barrio, a community organization that for two years has battled for immigrant rights in East Harlem, will not tolerate any more mistreatment of tenants.

"We will not allow that any landlord treat immigrant tenants with anything less than dignity and respect," said Juan Haro, the movement's leader.