Streetview of 2205 Davidson Avenue, Map data © 2024 Google
New York City has taken ownership of a building from a negligent landlord for the first time in over seven years. After a decade of organizing by tenants against landlord David Kornitzer, the city has foreclosed on the 49-unit building at 2201–2205 Davidson Avenue in the University Heights section of the Bronx, as first reported by Gothamist. Kornitzer had racked up numerous housing violations and financial penalties, owing the city $28 million in back taxes, emergency repairs, and other fees as of February.
There are currently more than 600 open housing violations at the property, according to Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) records. These include 245 “immediately hazardous” violations, such as mold, hot water outages, and broken locks. Residents have complained about issues with the building for more than a decade…