Landlord to court: 22 rentals now habitable
Harbour Point management still trying to pin down number of displaced
TROY — Management for the Harbour Point apartment complex was back in court Wednesday as the building safety issues that displaced over 100 residents in June stretch into a third month.
James Knox, an attorney for the law firm Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy which is representing 182 Delaware LLC, the company that owns the South Troy complex, told City Court Judge Marc Pallozzi that 22 units were now habitable and that work was continuing on the buildings.
Attorney Ben Neidl pleaded not guilty on behalf of the company to 12 code violations dating to May at an initial court appearance in July.
Thirty-six units remain uninhabitable. City Deputy Director of Public Information Frank Sainato said the city did not have up-to-date figures on the number of residents who remain displaced because the “property owners refused” to furnish them.
Jonathan Pierce, whose Albany communications firm is handling public relations for 182 Delaware LLC, said that Harbour Point management was trying to get an accurate estimate on the number of people still displaced.
“Not all residents are in the hotel (some are staying with family or friends) and getting the number of people (as opposed to units) is a little more difficult,” Pierce said in a text message.
Harbour Point management arranged for displaced tenants to be housed at a Travelodge in Colonie while still collecting rent for their uninhabitable apartments. Residents expressed extreme displeasure with this move at a July 20 City Council meeting.
Knox was joined at the defense table by property manager Mike Evangelisa, one of six 182 Delaware LLC employees the City Council voted to subpoena to compel sworn testimony
about what went wrong at the complex.
After the hearing, Knox said his firm was “analyzing the subpoenas for appearances.” Neidl had previously disputed whether the City Council had the authority to issue the subpoenas to his clients.
Knox also said that he had not received subpoenas relating to documents in the case. The City Council voted to issue a second round of subpoenas on Aug. 3.
Representatives for Harbour Point are due back in court for an update on repairs Aug. 26.
Another City Council meeting focused on the blighted building is scheduled for Aug. 17. A tenant meeting with representatives from the attorney general’s office, the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and the United Tenants of Albany is scheduled for Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Agape Apostolic Church at 1010 Madison Ave. in Troy.