The Wave
When Manhattan resident Mimi Fuhrman placed a winning bid of approximately $550,000 in a public auction to purchase a dilapidated 1-family home at 174 Beach 120th Street back in 2017, local homeowner John Karalis could only guess if the winning bidder would end up making the edifice a permanent residence or turn it into her summer home.
But what he later discovered was equal parts perplexing and disheartening.
“I don’t mind renovating it; I don’t want it to be a 12-room shelter,” said Karalis at The Wave’s recent visit to the outside of the 3-story structure in question.
According to applications unearthed by Karalis and Maureen Walsh of Walsh Properties, the current proprietor of the 40’ x 100’ lot is looking to gain approval from the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) for a Certificate of No Harassment (CNH).
The document — according to www1.nyc.gov — is what’s required by the NYC Department of Buildings before the buyer can attain a permit to alter, demolish or change the shape or layout of single room occupancy (SRO) dwelling.
Two of Fuhrman’s attempts to get the necessary approval were denied, with the city’s most recent objection occuring on May 15.
While the home was once an SRO, as per Democratic District Leader Lew Simon, it previously served as a summer facility. A year-round site, he states, won’t get the city’s endorsement.
When contacted by The Wave, Fuhrman — herself a city employee, who works as a senior lease negotiator for the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) — insisted that her plans for the abandoned home are still in the preliminary stages. She further related that she has no intentions of doing anything that would compromise the safety of the neighborhood.
She claimed that she originally viewed her purchase as an opportunity to open a beachside bed-and-breakfast getaway given her educational background in hotel and restaurant management.
Those projections, however, were quickly dashed when the longtime real estate professional realized she couldn’t afford the expenses involved with being a homeowner of the 12-room residence.
“I’m working with somebody else who’s going to help me with the project. They’re going to own more of it than me of course. But I’m not relinquishing any say. I’m going to make sure things are nice,” said Fuhrman when asked about her partnership with Steven Kates, a noted landlord and real estate investor.
6 comments:
(((Mimi Fuhrman)))
That winning bid should be investigated by the DOI-as a city employee she may have been given inside information. Never mind that it’s a lousy location for a homeless shelter- try putting one in Far Rockaway
The crack selling market is saturated on Beach 114, 115 & 116th Streets- there are plenty of assisted living places nearby- too many. The residents all beg on Beach 116th Street & one enterprising assisted living dweller takes a cab to the Stop and Shop to hit shoppers up for cash
Last anon:
And to think that both a luxury hotel and a luxury residential building are being planned for 116.
Blatant electoral blockbusting. They want to punish the nabes who voted against them
This is going to happen all over NYC "A shelter coming next door". She just following what our Mayor does shelter/hotels all over the place.
Last anon:
You know, it's probable she's responsible for the bulk of these homeless shelter hotels in her capacity as an official and the office she works in.
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