‘Deplorable Conditions’: 5 Senior Citizens Remain At Prospect Park Residence Despite Eviction Notice
More than 125 senior citizens, including Holocaust survivors and dementia patients, at the troubled Prospect Park Residence were forced out of their apartments under an eviction notice from a real estate developer, but only five refused to go.
A facility worker confirmed to the Park Slope Stoop that five women, ranging from ages 91 to 101, still live at 1 Prospect Park West. She didn’t comment further on their status.
It has become a messy court battle between the tenant’s families, controversial real estate developer Haysha Deitsch and the New York State Department of Health, which approved and announced the center’s foreclosure in March 2014.
Residents have longed complained of living in “deplorable conditions” putting the DOH under fire for lack of management and repairs.
“The Department of Health should be responsible for protecting our elderly loved ones,” said Joyce Singer, daughter of Alice Singer, one of the seniors who lives in the building, in a statement. “My mother is being evicted because of evil and greed.”
The DOH declined to comment and said, “DOH does not comment on pending litigation.”
Commercialized with trendy cafes and walking distance from the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, the senior citizens called the ever changing Park Slope neighborhood home.
It all changed in 2006 when Deitsch bought the residence for about $40 million. He then reached a deal in 2013 to sell the property for $76 million – if he could empty the facility before his deadline. Deitsch gave residents 90 days to leave.
Deitsch insisted that he’s a landlord and “not in the health care business.” He also filed for the demolition of two auto body shops, located at 243-245 4th Avenue (between President and Carroll Streets).
Families of the remaining five women continue to face hurdles as Deitsch smacked them with a $50 million lawsuit for allegedly “acting out of greed and malice,” he told the Associated Press.
“Please be informed that we are no longer accepting new move-ins/admissions,” the Prospect Park Residence wrote on its website, indicating that the facility is in its final days of closing, but it is unclear what happens next to the five women and staff members.
New York City Councilmember Brad Lander, who is highly critical of Deitsch’s real estate scheme, described him as “evil” and thinks his actions are “sociopathic.” He also bashed the DOH for giving residents a short evacuation notice. “The state health department has essentially taken the side of the sociopath instead of the side of the seniors who it’s their job to protect,” Lander said.
John Schaefer from Lander’s office said the council member “stands with the senior citizens,” and continues to support them.