As a leading member of the Shaoul Tenants Organizing Project (STOP) representing tenants in seven of the Shaoul's buildings I think it might be useful to correct the record.
Ben Shaoul, his sister Elizabeth, their parents Abraham and Minoo, their associate Michael Soleimani (former exclusive broker for Massey Knakal in the East Village), Josh Slepian, Billy Yu, sometime partners Rob Kaliner, the Ascend Group and others own about 50 properties mostly located in lower Manhattan. They have recently partnered up with Normandy Real Estate Partners and Westbrook Partners in the purchase of 17 properties from Extell Corp.
The extended Shaoul family has been involved in real estate for some time. Others include Jack and Michael Shaoul.
Their modus operandi is to target rent regulated buildings and drive the tenants out. This is done through intimidation, litigation (including SLAPP suits -- Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation in government), Dept. of Building (DOB) work permits which are used to transform entire buildings into hard hat areas intentionally creating unlivable conditions, and other forms of legally tolerated harassment. The DOB has facilitated much of the Shaoul's efforts, so much so that most of their residential buildings have been emptied of their original tenants. This is often accomplished within months.
Those tenants who have held out are constantly harassed by threatened or actual litigation, or at least are never sure what will come next creating extreme stress.
Tenants have been falsely accused of trespassing, harassement of workers (in one case accusing one tenant of surrounding a group of workers whatever that might mean), tortious interference, extortion, criminal attacks on their workers (one female tenant was arrested under false charges when the supervisor of the Shaoul demolition crew lied to police.
Tenants routinely have their rent refused, face claims that they are not allowing repairs to be made, are told they are not legal or that they are not rent regulated. Many have been threatened with a little known legal loophole now called phony demolition. The result is that tenants who fail to organize and sustain their joint opposition to the attacks fall prey to pitifully low buy out offers or are just forced out if they don't know their rights.
A classic tactic used by the Shaouls is to buy a rent regulated tenement (termed undervalued in real estate jargon), excavate the basement and rear yard, add additional floors on the top, force tenants out and demolish empty units, all to create market rate apartments. In no time, apartments which may have rented for $600 go for over $2000. Buildings in which tenants have lived for decades are changed into temporary housing for students and young executives in New York for a year or so. If Ben Shaoul thinks so highly of the East Village why doesn't he live there to experience first-hand the rape of the neighborhood at his and his cronie's hands.
Recently some tenants prevailed in an appeal of a DOB decision to allow so-called vertical enlargements on tenements. This proceeding at the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) was won by unanimous vote and was supported by letters and testimony from many elected representatives and even the Dept. of City Planning. That has meant nothing because the DOB has chosen not to enforce the BSA ruling until the apppeals have been exhausted. Though the apartments are illegal they are occupied, also without a Certificate of Occupancy. This means that the Shaouls are literally able to use the rent roll from these illegal units to finance future purchases and even their appeals.
Other scams exploited by the Shaouls are claiming to build community facilities which allows them a bonus of allowable square footage. They then rent these units out as luxury residential apartments. One such unit on W. 16th Street is rented out as a 5 bdrm. apt. The DOB does nothing about it even though they are made aware.
One DOB inspector at a building in the East Village told tenants that the owners are "connected" and have "more money than God."
This, believe it or not, is the short version of the story.
Those interested in knowing more about this may be put in touch with the Shaoul Tenants Organizing Project by calling GOLES, Cooper Square Committee, or Councilmember Rosie Mendez's office or may contact us directly.
We are still waiting for a real piece of investigative writing about this family and their tactics.
As a leading member of the Shaoul Tenants Organizing Project (STOP) representing tenants in seven of the Shaoul's buildings I think it might be useful to correct the record.
Ben Shaoul, his sister Elizabeth, their parents Abraham and Minoo, their associate Michael Soleimani (former exclusive broker for Massey Knakal in the East Village), Josh Slepian, Billy Yu, sometime partners Rob Kaliner, the Ascend Group and others own about 50 properties mostly located in lower Manhattan. They have recently partnered up with Normandy Real Estate Partners and Westbrook Partners in the purchase of 17 properties from Extell Corp.
The extended Shaoul family has been involved in real estate for some time. Others include Jack and Michael Shaoul.
Their modus operandi is to target rent regulated buildings and drive the tenants out. This is done through intimidation, litigation (including SLAPP suits -- Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation in government), Dept. of Building (DOB) work permits which are used to transform entire buildings into hard hat areas intentionally creating unlivable conditions, and other forms of legally tolerated harassment. The DOB has facilitated much of the Shaoul's efforts, so much so that most of their residential buildings have been emptied of their original tenants. This is often accomplished within months.
Those tenants who have held out are constantly harassed by threatened or actual litigation, or at least are never sure what will come next creating extreme stress.
Tenants have been falsely accused of trespassing, harassement of workers (in one case accusing one tenant of surrounding a group of workers whatever that might mean), tortious interference, extortion, criminal attacks on their workers (one female tenant was arrested under false charges when the supervisor of the Shaoul demolition crew lied to police.
Tenants routinely have their rent refused, face claims that they are not allowing repairs to be made, are told they are not legal or that they are not rent regulated. Many have been threatened with a little known legal loophole now called phony demolition. The result is that tenants who fail to organize and sustain their joint opposition to the attacks fall prey to pitifully low buy out offers or are just forced out if they don't know their rights.
A classic tactic used by the Shaouls is to buy a rent regulated tenement (termed undervalued in real estate jargon), excavate the basement and rear yard, add additional floors on the top, force tenants out and demolish empty units, all to create market rate apartments. In no time, apartments which may have rented for $600 go for over $2000. Buildings in which tenants have lived for decades are changed into temporary housing for students and young executives in New York for a year or so. If Ben Shaoul thinks so highly of the East Village why doesn't he live there to experience first-hand the rape of the neighborhood at his and his cronie's hands.
Recently some tenants prevailed in an appeal of a DOB decision to allow so-called vertical enlargements on tenements. This proceeding at the Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) was won by unanimous vote and was supported by letters and testimony from many elected representatives and even the Dept. of City Planning. That has meant nothing because the DOB has chosen not to enforce the BSA ruling until the apppeals have been exhausted. Though the apartments are illegal they are occupied, also without a Certificate of Occupancy. This means that the Shaouls are literally able to use the rent roll from these illegal units to finance future purchases and even their appeals.
Other scams exploited by the Shaouls are claiming to build community facilities which allows them a bonus of allowable square footage. They then rent these units out as luxury residential apartments. One such unit on W. 16th Street is rented out as a 5 bdrm. apt. The DOB does nothing about it even though they are made aware.
One DOB inspector at a building in the East Village told tenants that the owners are "connected" and have "more money than God."
This, believe it or not, is the short version of the story.
Those interested in knowing more about this may be put in touch with the Shaoul Tenants Organizing Project by calling GOLES, Cooper Square Committee, or Councilmember Rosie Mendez's office or may contact us directly.
We are still waiting for a real piece of investigative writing about this family and their tactics.