City agency to inspect HB buildings

By Steven Gnagni
Managing Editor

New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is planning to inspect two buildings in Highbridge next week as part of an investigation of Frank Palazzolo, who owns over 100 apartment buildings in the Bronx. At the same time, the bank that holds the mortgages for the buildings here is beginning its own investigation.

HPD is investigating Mr. Palazzolo after receiving complaints from tenants who live in his buildings. Those tenants have been brought together by the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition and Highbridge Community Life Center Organizer Jackie Del Valle.

Mr. Palazzolo owns three buildings in Highbridge—136 West 170th Street, 1030 Woodycrest Avenue, and 1350-52 University Avenue. Ms. Del Valle helped start tenant associations in the first two buildings. Those tenants did building surveys, noting major problems that need to be fixed. After submitting those surveys to HPD, the agency’s Division of Anti-abandonment set dates for tenant petition inspections—May 20 for 136 West 170th Street, and May 22 for 1030 Woodycrest Avenue. The agency will inspect several apartments as well as public areas.

“They will make recommendations based on what they see,” said Ms. Del Valle. “They will either refer them to code enforcement or to litigation.” Both buildings are already under litigation—HPD is suing the management companies to make the repairs. But the inspections will help HPD put more pressure on Mr. Palazzolo to make necessary repairs.

HPD is not the only organization putting pressure on Mr. Palazzolo. Washington Mutual, the bank that holds the mortgage, is also planning an investigation. The bank found out about the buildings after tenant organizers sent a letter detailing the problems.

“They bought the mortgage from another bank, and didn’t know what they were buying,” Ms. Del Valle said. “They called us, and want to set inspections. They want to protect their investment, and it also seems like the bank is morally uncomfortable learning about the conditions of the buildings.”

In addition to targeting Mr. Palazzolo’s buildings, Ms. Del Valle is also planning several workshops about tenant rights.

“We want to do monthly clinics, with question and answer sessions,” she said. “We also want to have a tenant’s council to meet and address larger issues, like chronic slumlords. We know Frank Palazzolo, and just found out about someone else who has a couple of buildings on Jerome Avenue that are in bad shape.”

The council, which will include residents of Highbridge, will also be involved in promoting awareness of new buildings in Highbridge and disseminating information about how residents can apply for that housing.