How to Commit Property Fraud - GHOST LAND in NYC!

In emerging or newly rezoned neighborhoods, potentially unscrupulous real estate “professionals”, cheat! In 2001, former city-owned lots were up for grabs, by strict RFP, or by having low friends in high places.

The latter, began building upon acquisition, while other lots remained vacant. The first to build, could significantly increase the value of their buy, by finessing address numbers and “tweaking” land-use mandates.

In this example, of hiding-in-plain-sight, all storefronts located where Levain Bakery sits, between SWC of West 117th Street/Frederick Douglass Blvd (a/k/a 8th Avenue) and West 116th Street. The development named Larkspur, launched in 2005, owned under corporate title Larkspur LLC. The history of Stakeholders include, Ron Moelis and Sandy Loewentheil (affiliation, L&M Development Partners),Thomas Metallo (affiliation, Great American Construction/GAC) Frank Anelante Jr. and his presumed brother-in-law, Joseph Zitolo (who are the Majority Owner, affiliation Lemle & Wolff, Inc.)

The syndicate of owners Larkspur, LLC acquired 2161-2167 Frederick Douglass Blvd but registered the property as 2161- 2169 Frederick Douglass. By doing this, Larkspur LLC immediately gained unlawful enrichment of their property with addition of at least two 20x100 Ghost Lots.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS BLVD: 2161 - Egress Exit for 304 West 117th Street 2163 - Chic Nail and Spa 2165 - Subway GHOST LOT - Apollo Chiropractic (Certificate of Occupancy indicates this business is in the Cellar of the residential building, around the corner: 304 West 117th Street.)
2167 - Levain Bakery 2169 - Brown Harris Stevens

In 2004, a constructed building that should be 2169 Frederick Douglass Blvd adopted 2171 Frederick Douglass Blvd as the address. Larkspur LLC’s Ghost Land scheme, which initiated in 2002 appears to be Accomplished.

Real Estate Fraud is a Long Game. Where else in NYC is Ghost Land found? SOUL NYC