Park Slope Fight Against 'Predatory' Landlord Aims At Investors

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — A campaign against a prominent Park Slope landlord gained a boost this week when two officials connected to the company's investors joined tenants for a tour of the buildings.

A city councilman and school board member from Texas visited Brooklyn over the weekend to tour buildings owned by Greenbrook Partners, who tenants say is working to displace or harass tenants in dozens of buildings purchased largely during the pandemic.

The tours, which came after letters to Texas from tenants and local elected officials, are the latest in a campaign to appeal to the Texas School Board of Education, which contributed at least $100 million to one of Greenbrook's major backers, NW1 Partners, according to Council Member Brad Lander's Office.

“As this tour and conversations with tenants made clear, the Texas School Board of Education should not be investing in this predatory real estate fund," Lander said in a release about the visit. "I’m so grateful that elected officials came all the way from Texas to see the seriousness and urgency of the problem."

Tenants from Greenbrook buildings have been organizing for several months after discovering that the company had purchased, according to their research, more than 60 buildings in the last several years, most during the pandemic.

After buying the buildings, which are largely a mix of market-rate and rent-stabilized units, Greenbrook notifies market-rate tenants their lease won't be renewed, tenants found. Tenants and elected officials say they then begin harassment tactics aimed at pushing out the rent-regulated tenants as well.

The NYC Department of Buildings, the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and the NYC/NYS Tenant Harassment Task Force are all investigating Greenbrook’s tactics, according to Lander.

Greenbrook declined Patch's request for comment on the Texas visit.

According to local officials, the tours appeared to be a successful step in the campaign to stop the landlord.

Both Dallas Council Member Casey Thomas and Texas School Board of Education Member Aicha Davis gave pledges of support after the tours.

“This visit has shown that the Texas School Board of Education was not correctly advised on the full situation with Greenbrook Partners and our investment," Davis said in a release. "Moving forward, I will work with my colleagues and the Texas legislature to develop a plan in support of Texas public schools and the affected residents in New York City, which includes former Texas students and teachers."

“I stand with Council Member Brad Lander, as he stands with his constituents,” Thomas added.

Read more:

• Tenants Tackle 'Morally Reprehensible' Landlord In Park Slope