Brooklyn Developer Gets Some of His 15 Minutes of Fame

Thursday, May 3, 2007, by Robert

If you missed the deconstruction of Brooklyn developer Mendel Brach (of Williamsburg Finger Building fame) on My9 News, definitely click and view. The story focuses on new condos on Spencer Street in Bed-Stuy with some issues. Good times.
· Spencer Street Condo & Mendel Brach & Henry Radusky [YouTube]
· Spencer St. Condos Still in Limbo Land [IMBY]
· At Spencer Street Condos, a Solution Meets Skepticism [NYT]

Filed under Real Estate Development,

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Comments (20 extant)

Where's Betsy Gotbaum in all of this? Elected to the office of Public Advocate, since 2001 this woman hasn't done a thing. Those who lived in NY in the '90s will recall how Mark Green used to respond to such issues. Green was the perennial thorn in the side of careless government and deceptive business practice. Gotbaum has eviscerated the office of Public Advocate while developers, who have every local and city-wide pol in their pocket, build and operate unchecked. HERE's A NEAT TID-BIT: Betsy Gotbaum's step-son, Irving, a partner in Friedman & Gotbaum at 568 Broadway and a resident of Dumbo, served Brooklyn developer David Walentas in his quest to rezone properties that are now causing much consternation in those parts. He also had a hand in the controversial approvial of the Downtown Hotel, a project of Ira Drukier and Robert DeNiro. Do you think there's any coincidence between stepson Irving's serving at the foot of development greed and Ol' Betsy's silence? Do you see a glaring conflict of interest? I say she's hiding in plain site. Her office contends that she's focusing on educational issues and "economic development." Sounds to me like she's focusing on the economic development of her stepson.

By Waldo at May 3, 2007 3:16 PM

this guy is the scum of the world and i'm sure he brings shame to the human race. that beanie wont help him when he's burnig in hell.

By Anonymous at May 3, 2007 4:18 PM

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By Anonymous at May 3, 2007 4:20 PM

That is bad

By Anonymous at May 3, 2007 4:33 PM

Ohhhh... but there's SOOO much more to the story that didn't air. Like the numerous meetings and letter writing campaigns made to every city official (including the AG's Office) that have fallen on deaf ears. How the Temporary C of O was renewed TWICE after owners had already moved in, with minimal requirements for a Final C of O, until the NY Times article in 2005. How the DOB has taken a hard stance with the building code since the initial NY Times article in 2005, providing the condo owners with a list of C of O requirements that many new buildings have never had to meet. How the owners received offering plans legally reveiewed and certified with the floorplans and design as built. The floorplans filed with the city were completely different and no owner could have known that. How the legal fees are slowly running these condos into the ground since this nightmare has dragged on for 2+ years. So many people who could be blamed for allowing this to continue, but ultimately no accountability ANYWHERE.

By Mr. Spencer at May 3, 2007 4:37 PM

that's new york fuckin city for you. when there's money like that being tossed around the AG's office will tell you one thing when you file a complaint.

By Anonymous at May 3, 2007 5:44 PM

Mendel Brach you blood suckin leech fix the violations or give the people their money back.

By Anonymous at May 3, 2007 5:51 PM

DOB should be paying these peoples mortgages until they make this developer fix the violations, by the way, what banks would lend on a property with no CFO?

By Anonymous at May 3, 2007 6:13 PM

The developer and investors made $25 mil for the project, fine them $1 mil a day in until violations are fixed, i garuntee they will be fixed in less then 25 days.

By Anonymous at May 3, 2007 6:17 PM

10.

This is why the Temporary C of O was created, so that banks can approve the mortgages and people can close on their apartments before the entire building was finished. The C of O is then thought of as just a formality. Obviously not the case.

By Anonymous at May 3, 2007 6:19 PM

11.

Exactly, Anon 6:19. I expressed reservations to my attorney about closing on a temporaty C of O, and was assured that this is common with new construction condominiums, since the final C of O would just be a formality. The temporary C of Os were even on the NYC Department of Buildings website until the NY Times article was published. Clearly what has happened states Buyer Beware to all new construction purchasers out there.

By Mr. Spencer at May 3, 2007 6:27 PM

12.

I feel for these families, but the lesson here (besides that this guy is a crook) is never close on a temporary C of O. Its temporary, right in the name people. Common or not, its a bad idea. Now if any of these poor souls expressed concern and were advised by their attorney's I would sue them for malpractice. Finally an inspection for a few hundred bucks would have pointed out many of these issues as well, wish we could rely on the DoB but recent evidence shows we can't.

By Anonymous at May 3, 2007 7:37 PM

13.

Of the two major violations the poor design is the worst one. First problem is architects approving their own plans, its called checks and balances (just ask Scarano). Second, it PASSED inspection, WTF, how does it pass inspection when it needs major repairs. Proper inspections would have nipped this in the butt.

Still have to deal with the fact that there are zoning violations, but that should not prevent C of O for the units owned by others, only for those still owned by the developer. The city is basically punishing the wrong people on this. So assuming the structural issues are fixed and it passes inspection the city should give the C of O, but deny all new C of O for the developers until the matter is resolved (actually I would argue to never let this guy build again).

By Anonymous at May 3, 2007 7:39 PM

14.

this developer needs to have his !#@!# legs broken plain and simple. It's a sad day when hard working people have to go through things like this. you guys are doing the right thing keep fighting and dont give up until you get some answers. Try and stay in the press.

best of luck my thoughts and prayers are with you.

By Anonymous at May 3, 2007 7:55 PM

15.

My favorite part is when Mr. Brach "swears to God" that he will be right back and then never shows. Henry oh no c of o Radusky of Bric-o-load Designs has built more non existing yeshivas in Brooklyn than any other fartkitect. The invisible yeshiva at 266 22nd Street... the invisible yeshiva at 406-408 15th street... the girls yeshiva on Spencer Street...
The entire brooklyn office of the DoB must have been appointed by Bush, because no one's appoligizing and no ones losing their jobs either.

By Anonymous at May 3, 2007 8:43 PM

16.

You think its just Brach thats a double crossing see you en tea? There are other notorious people/family-fuckers that speak the same way he does, look the same way he does and dress the same way he does. Im dealing with one of them now. It really makes me wonder, why not get rid of those ringlets and just get horns. Much more fitting. It shocks me that this wanker claims to be a "holy" person. Son of a bitch, may karma come at you at 25million miles per hour.
I am so ANGRY BY THIS!!!!!!

By anon at May 4, 2007 1:28 PM

17.

These people need street justice and a !@#!@# gun in his mouth and I'm sure the work will get done or the money would be returned. Nothing worse then a sneak theif. !#!@#! worthless blood suckin leech.

By Anonymous at May 4, 2007 3:02 PM

18.

Umm... you guys... are just spewing venom. And oh-so-obvious anti-semitic remarks.

Why don't you just stick to facts?

Speaking about facts,if a reporter SAYS a guy walked away with $25million - is that a fact?

And did you miss the FACT that at the end of the segment the reporter clearly states that Mendel is TRYING to work things out with the tenants?

And that he DID offer to speak to her in a half-hour but his lawyer advised him against it? WOuldn't you listen to the advice of YOUR lawyer?

Have you thought, if only for a moment, that Mendel might be a hard-working guy, trying to make an honest living just like the rest of us, but happens to be a developer... and so then it's okay to villify him? Sometimes things we start out doing right turns out wrong. And it's a process to rectify.

Why all the personal attacks - just based on a media report? Do you know it as 100% true? Is Brach really the guy to blame here... or is he being used as a scapegoat? Where are all the other partners in this?

Just a bunch of questions that occur to me - when trying to look at it fairly.

I hurt for the families that are in limbo too... but c'mon - sometimes you got to THINK FOR YOURSELF and see another side to a story... and not just get on the bandwagon of the latest in-thing "bashing developers". They are human too, they have families too. And they might, just might be trying to set things right.

I googled Mendel Brach - and it is obvious he is beset with problems... but remember, there's ALWAYS two sides to a story - and you cannot judge anyone until you are in their shoes.

And surely - it is NOT okay to use anti-semitic language and comments. That is RACIST. And has NOTHING to do with the issue at hand.

By anony at May 17, 2007 1:56 AM

19.

Anony - With all due respect, you have no idea what you're talking about. How else do you explain the actions of a guy (and he had four partners on this project who strangely enough are never mentioned) who filed an application with the city for faculty housing and then decides to make them condos without filling out the needed paperwork. Mr. Brach has openly flouted the law and then becomes arrogant when confronted about it (I speak from personal experience). While I do not condone anti-semitism in any form, I think that the assaults on Mr. Brach's character are completely warranted.

By Mr. Spencer at May 25, 2007 11:54 AM

20.

I too own a condo that was built by a Hysidic developer. It has been one nightmare after another. Is it a coincidence ? i don't know, but when that woman said, we are at the developr's mercy, I knew excatly what she meant. EXACTLY ! There is a certain something missing from our developer. Call it a sense of pride. I have dealt with many construction projects in my life, it's my job and a good develepor has a sense of pride about the job when he hands it over to the customer. A good developer comes back when there are loose end sto be tied up. We have been told, "just deal with it". Or "it's your apartment, not mine, it's not my problem anymore."
It is terrible when human beings treat each other like this. To the person who sticks up for Mendel, you mean to tell me that the unit owners have to go to court to get what we all know they are entited to ? They have to pay for what they already paid for ? NYC has a llot of spoiled brats and yes, they only showed one side of the story, but ask yourself this. If some did to your mother, father, brother, sister, any loved one for that matter, if Mendel did it to them, how would you feel. If Mendel was my brother, son, any kind of famnily memeber I would be grossly embarrased. The truth only works if you are consistent to it. To NYC Department of Buildings, SHAME ON YOU ! People rely on you to make sure things are right. These peoiple should sue the city for gross neglegence. How dare you tie things up in the courts and allow this man to continue doing business. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE A DIRTY HAND IN THIS. We're talking about people's lives.

By Anonymous at June 22, 2007 3:30 PM