Sends Letter Calling on Local Landlord to Uphold Buyout Agreement with Sole Remaining Tenant

City Hall – Today, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito released a letter imploring an El Barrio/East Harlem landlord to make good on a buyout agreement struck between their organization and a longtime tenant of their 3^rd Avenue and 109^th Street residential holding. United States Armed Forces Veteran Raymond Tirado accepted the agreement offered to him by building owner Yi Han in September 2017, but has not yet received payment. The parties go to court today to determine shifting the settlement to a civil money judgement, obligating the property owner to pay in a timely manner.

The letter states:

In 2015, 1989 3 Ave LLC filed for construction permits, citing its residential building as being uninhabited. This was a false filing – although several tenants had relocated, the building was in fact not vacant at the time. Mr. Tirado and a fellow resident remained in the residence. While the other remaining tenant did eventually move out, Mr. Tirado was offered the option to either stay or to receive a buyout. He chose to stay, and remained committed to this decision until the conditions created by your construction work made the choice untenable. Poor air quality, burst pipes, and a lack of heat and hot water were just a few of the conditions under which Mr. Tirado was living. It was at this time that Mr. Tirado accepted your buyout offer.

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I take this opportunity to encourage that the agreement struck between you and Mr. Tirado be seen through. Raymond Tirado is one person, but his story has become a common one. How this case is resolved determines much about the future of community/developer relations throughout our city, and especially in El Barrio/East Harlem.

Full text of the letter below:

Dear Ms. Han,

El Barrio/East Harlem is a cherished community in New York City, and one that I am proud to represent on the City Council. This vibrant neighborhood has a deep historical importance to its diverse residents. As the neighborhood experiences a rapid onslaught of development, it is more necessary than ever to ensure that our community is protected from the pressures and consequences of market forces. Without this essential oversight, even one bad actor operating unchecked can set a dangerous precedent going forward.

With that in mind, what is happening at your El Barrio/East Harlem holding has become a troubling situation.

Raymond Tirado is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, and a lifelong resident of El Barrio/East Harlem. He has lived in the building at 3rd Avenue and 109th Street for 25 years – a number that accounts for nearly half of his life, and for the entirety of the life of his son. Despite these decades in this dwelling, Mr. Tirado has been fighting for acknowledgement from your company for nearly two years.

In 2015, 1989 3 Ave LLC filed for construction permits, citing its residential building as being uninhabited. This was a false filing – although several tenants had relocated, the building was in fact not vacant at the time. Mr. Tirado and a fellow resident remained in the residence. While the other remaining tenant did eventually move out, Mr. Tirado was offered the option to either stay or to receive a buyout. He chose to stay, and remained committed to this decision until the conditions created by your construction work made the choice untenable. Poor air quality, burst pipes, and a lack of heat and hot water were just a few of the conditions under which Mr. Tirado was living. It was at this time that Mr. Tirado accepted your buyout offer.

Only a short time later – September 28, 2016 – you appeared on Channel Thirteen’s MetroFocus, telling the host that your message for Mr. Tirado was for him to “take the money and move on with [his] life.” What is confusing to those following this case is your reluctance to allow Mr. Tirado to do exactly that. Despite Mr. Tirado agreeing to be bought out, your organization has failed to comply with the agreement by providing payment. Mr. Tirado has now been left with nowhere to live, and no money with which to relocate.

I take this opportunity to encourage that the agreement struck between you and Mr. Tirado be seen through. Raymond Tirado is one person, but his story has become a common one. How this case is resolved determines much about the future of community/developer relations throughout our city, and especially in El Barrio/East Harlem.

Sincerely,       

Melissa Mark-Viverito

Speaker

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