Overview
- City housing officials, in a Wednesday court action, secured the largest penalty in HPD history against owners Karan Singh and Rajmattie Persaud for conditions at Robert Fulton Terrace and Fordham Towers.
- A judge installed an independent chief restructuring officer, a court‑appointed turnaround specialist who has hired a property manager to begin work using more than $900,000 frozen from the owners’ accounts.
- To steer the buildings’ future, HPD will convert the $31 million into property liens as Fannie Mae moves ahead with foreclosure, and the city is pressing the lender to select a buyer committed to preserving the homes.
- Tenants across roughly 500 units reported nearly 2,000 violations over years, including heat and hot‑water outages, broken elevators, infestations, leaks, failing appliances, and unsafe trash rooms.
- Residents welcomed enforcement yet asked whether any money would reimburse out‑of‑pocket costs, a debate unfolding as the city prioritizes immediate repairs and longer‑term ownership that keeps the housing stable and affordable.