Harlem Landlord Illegally Built 4 Apartments, City Says

HARLEM, NY — A landlord has been hit with a hefty fine for illegally constructing four new apartments within a Harlem building, according to the city.

The $240,000 in penalties were announced this week against "370 Manhattan Ave Co LLC," the listed owner of the six-story building at that address, on the corner of West 115th Street.

Inspectors from the Department of Buildings first visited the building in May 2021, days after a member of the public made a 311 complaint reporting the illegally converted apartments.

While the building's legal occupancy is only 10 apartments per floor, inspectors discovered 11 apartments each on the fourth, fifth and sixth floors of 370 Manhattan Ave., according to DOB. The cellar, too, had been illegally converted into an apartment.

Each unit had a gas-equipped kitchen, a bedroom and a three-piece bathroom, the city says.

The city issued a slew of violations to the owners, with the most recent ones sent last month.

While the city only identified the landlord under an LLC, city records show that 370 Manhattan Ave. is controlled by the company Successful Management Corp, with Susan Edelstein listed as the head officer.

In December, Edelstein was named the 77th-worst landlord in New York City on the annual list compiled by the Public Advocate's Office, based on conditions in two of her buildings in Washington Heights.

Successful Management did not immediately return a request for comment.