Fred Ohebshalom, a member of a notorious New York City slumlord family, is facing accusations of neglectful management from tenants of a building he owns on the Upper West Side. Tenants at 515 Cathedral Parkway claim that Ohebshalom has allowed the building to deteriorate, causing dangerous living conditions and attempting to push out long-term regulated tenants in order to raise rents and increase profits. One tenant, Roger Rubin, who has lived in the building for over 30 years, described the neglect he has witnessed since Ohebshalom bought the building two decades ago.
Allegations against Ohebshalom include attempts to intimidate tenants with scare tactics and poor living conditions in order to force them out so he can convert their apartments into multi-bedroom units and raise rents. Patti Anders, a 40-year resident of 515 Cathedral Parkway, has sued Ohebshalom’s management company, Empire Management, multiple times over issues such as leaks and lack of response to repair requests. The city filed a lawsuit against Ohebshalom over 300 violations at the building, which was settled for nearly $1.25 million, with management agreeing to fix outstanding violations under the city’s supervision.
Despite the settlement, tenants continue to report neglect from Ohebshalom and management. Recent incidents including severe flooding that damaged several apartments, a broken elevator for eight months, and 15 months without gas service for half of the building have further strained the relationship between tenants and management. Residents have criticized the quality and affordability of repairs, claiming that management uses cheap materials and tactics to maximize profits at the expense of tenants’ well-being.
Residents have expressed fear of retaliation from management, with some tenants choosing to remain anonymous for their safety. Ohebshalom’s tactics have led to an exodus of rent-stabilized tenants from the building, with longtime residents feeling pressured to leave due to poor living conditions and ongoing disputes with management. The anonymous tenants at 515 Cathedral Parkway expressed concern that they will not be able to continue fighting against their landlord to keep their family apartment, despite their desire to preserve it for future generations.
Empire Management, Ohebshalom’s company, denied any knowledge of tenant harassment and claimed to be working to minimize disruptions for residents while completing maintenance and improvement projects. The company stated that they have invested significant resources in the building to address violations and resolve tenant complaints. However, tenants remain frustrated with the ongoing issues of neglect and mistreatment they face at the hands of Ohebshalom and Empire Management, as they continue to fight for safe and affordable housing in their own homes.
