NY Daily News Article
EXCLUSIVE: Real estate developer accused of lying to Harlem church, community to build homeless shelter
James L. Varick Community Center @ 151 W 136th St. taken in NYC on June 15th, 2016.
(RICHARD HARBUS/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, June 20, 2016, 4:00 AM
A wealthy real estate developer duped the members of a historic Harlem church into selling their adjacent property to build a men's homeless shelter — after first promising condos, according to residents and parishioners.
Members of the Mother African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church claim David Levitan of 339 Development LLC. told them last year that he planned to turn their James L. Varick Community Center on W. 136th St. into condos to revitalize the neighborhood.
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The church, founded in 1796, was more than $1 million in debt. After serious consideration, they sold the community center building to Levitan for over $7 million.
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Immediately after the sale, the construction of a homeless shelter began without the filing any permits with the Department of Buildings. The construction violated a 2008 Community Board No. 10 moratorium, which suspended new or expansions of special interest facilities in an already oversaturated Central Harlem.
“(Levitan) said he's keep it as a community center, would fix it up, sit on it and see what the market does and then determine what to do from there," said J. Wayman Henry, a two-year resident of the area and a managing partner with Consortium Elite, a real estate consultant firm.
Henry, who is a former NFL player, and a developer were in the running to purchase the property, but lost the bid to Levitan.
Levitan is the landlord of other homeless shelters including one on Southern Blvd. in the Bronx where Jevon Lawyer, 21 was shot to death during a birthday party. Lawyer's mother, Melissa has a pending wrongful death lawsuit against Levitan, the city and others claiming negligence, according to court records.
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Most residents aren't pleased with another shelter or transitional facility moving to their block since there's three others close by and that's why the moratorium was established, they said.
"Our main concern is everything is being done in secret and the community wasn't notified," said Charles Moody, a member of the board of directors for the community center and 12-year resident.
AME Zion Church @ 140-6 W 137th taken in NYC on June 15th, 2016.
(RICHARD HARBUS/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
"We only learned what was going on in the building when we asked the construction workers a few weeks ago," said Peter Marchese, a member of the West 136th St. Block Association.
Assemblyman Keith Wright, City Councilwoman Inez Dickens and the 32nd Precinct are calling for the city to withhold providing any contracts to Levitan, according to a press release issued by the association.
"The community center was a part of our block, we had meetings there, but (Levitan) pulled the wool over the churches eyes without community involvement," said Marchese.
Residents said Levitan allegedly denied violating the board's suspension rules by dressing up the plans as a relocation of the Kelly Transitional Residence, a men's shelter on West 127th St.
"We are looking to relocate the Kelly and are in the early stages now, but nothing is set in stone," said Doug James, attorney for the Center for Urban Community Services that operates the Kelly.
James confirmed that Levitan has approached them to lease the Varick, but no documents were signed.
The first public meeting with the community is expected on Monday at 215 West 125th St. on the 4th Fl. at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the plans for the center.
"We intend on Monday to lay out our plans, address their (the community's) concerns and answers their questions," said James.
Calls to Levitan and his company were not returned.
To see actual article please click here: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/businessman-accused-lying-build-harlem-homeless-shelter-article-1.2680037