Growing concerns over real
estate fraud in Brooklyn
By Nelson A. King
As real estate prices rise,
many homeowners in Brooklyn
are feeling the heat, as real
estate fraud, intense harassment
of homeowners to sell
their homes and over development
in which multi-story
buildings are beside one-family
houses have also increased to
alarming levels.
These circumstances have
spurred community groups —
including Neighborhood Housing
Services of Brooklyn (NHS
Brooklyn), Community Board
17 (CB 17), University Settlement
— and elected officials,
such as State Senator Kevin
Parker, and Assembly Members
N. Nick Perry and Diana
Richardson, to host a townhall
meeting on Saturday to address
these burning issues.
At Saturday’s event — held
at the Middle School for Media,
Law & Fine Arts, 905 Winthrop
St. — homeowners had
the opportunity to meet representatives
to discuss foreclosure
assistance, property taxes,
fraud, property violations and
other housing challenges,
according to Tyrone McDonald,
government and community
relations manager, NHS
Brooklyn.
“New York is a judicial state.
You have the ability to reach an
agreement with the court and
the lender before your home is
foreclosed,” said Angella Davidson,
program director for Foreclosure
for NHS Brooklyn, during
the panel discussion.
Other panelists included
Benjamin Colombo, NYC Dept.
of Buildings; Allyson Martinez,
chair of Community Board 17’s
Land Use Committee; Karen
White, the Office of the Attorney
General; Jennifer Browne,
of NYC Dept. of Finance; and
Richard Farrell, assistant district
attorney for the Real
Estate Fraud Unit of Brooklyn.
“Developers rely on bully
tactics to force homeowners to
give up their rights,” Martinez
said. “You don’t have to give
in to that. I would also recommend
that homeowners get an
Caribbean L 24 ife, April 19–25, 2019 BQ
engineer’s report and land survey
when a developer begins
work next to you.”
Martinez also encouraged
homeowners and other residents
to contact Community
Board 17 for legal referrals if a
developer wants to build next
door.
Moreover, Community Board
17 urged residents to sign a
petition calling for the board
to become a “cease and desist
zone,” where homeowners can
join a no-call list for solicitations
from real estate agents,
developers and investors. The
petition eventually will be
given to local elected officials
in Community Board 17.
McDonald said NHS Brooklyn
plans to host additional
townhalls, in Community
Board 8, 9 and 13 in the Coney
Island area, bringing the message
of community preservation;
and encouraging homeowners
to be informed and
exercise their rights.
“Maintaining general wealth
in our community should be
FAS H ION S POT L IGHT
Tonya Ores, executive director NHS Brooklyn, after town
hall meeting. NHS Brooklyn
our top priority now more than
ever,” said Gary Campbell,
board member of NHS Brooklyn
and moderator of the panel
discussion, along with CB 17
member and resident Trisha
Ocona.
If you have been approached
by a developer to sell and need
advice, call Community Board
17 at 718-434-3801.
If you feel you have been a
victim of real estate fraud call
the Action Center of the District
Attorney at 718-250-2340.
To report real estate fraud,
also call the Attorney General
at 800-771-7755.
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