Greenwood Heights Association Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY
March 26, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Urgent: Greenwood Heights, Sunset Park Residents Demand Criminal Investigation and Halt Hazardous 225 25th Street Warehouse-Shelter Project
The Greenwood Heights community is urgently calling to stop a warehouse-style shelter being constructed at 225 25th Street, Brooklyn, 11232—a project which is quietly being approved by the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and awarded to David Levitan, one of New York City’s most notorious slumlords.
While shelters are being closed across the five boroughs, our neighborhood—bounded by 3rd and 5th Avenues between 20th and 40th Streets—is being strained yet again. With approximately 10 to 15% of our local population currently residing in shelters, compared to the citywide average of 1.37%, Greenwood Heights, Sunset Park, bears a disproportionate burden. This is a clear violation of the City’s Fair Share Policy, designed to equitably distribute social services across all neighborhoods.
Now, without transparency, independent public review, or community input, the city plans to add over 200+ men to a large-scale congregate facility in a semi-industrial zone plagued by public safety issues, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient infrastructure. The 25th Street subway station faces significant challenges with safety concerns. Proposing a new shelter in an area marked by narrow, dimly lit streets, warehouses, vacant lots, and limited social services requires careful evaluation. There is a risk of unintended negative impacts for those who rely on the 23rd–26th Street corridors daily.
The Developer: A Public Threat
The shelter is being developed by David Levitan, whose name is synonymous with tenant abuse, unsafe buildings, and unchecked profiteering. With thousands of open housing violations, Levitan’s portfolio of shelters and buildings has been repeatedly flagged by media and oversight bodies for endangering vulnerable populations. He is currently under scrutiny for unsafe construction practices at the 25th Street site itself, with a rushed renovation disturbing an asbestos-laden building next to a Pre-K.
Call for a Criminal Investigation
During the De Blasio administration, and continuing now under Adams, multimillion-dollar contracts have been quietly handed to non-profits who work with developers like Levitan with minimal oversight. Greenwood Heights, in particular, has become a target for hotel and warehouse-style shelters. A polluted, hazardous, and poorly constructed shelter is being forced into a neighborhood that already houses more shelter beds per capita than almost anywhere else in the city, violating established city policies.
The city’s decision to work again with Levitan raises deep concerns about corruption and cronyism. We demand a full investigation by the New York State Attorney General, the Brooklyn District Attorney, or the Eastern District of New York into the awarding of this contract—and others—the legality of the development process, and any backroom dealings between DSS, lobbyists, and the developer.
Community Outrage and Urgent Demands
Our community comprises working-class residents and small business owners who rely on elected officials to act in the public interest. Instead, we face silence and neglect from elected officials who can intervene. We are calling on Mayor’s Office, Commissioner Molly Park, City Council leadership, and all city and state oversight bodies to:
Immediately halt construction at 225 25th Street;
Enforce New York City’s Fair Share Policy, including a moratorium on new shelters in Greenwood Heights until equitable distribution citywide is achieved;
Support permanent housing and dignified, community-based care models, not dangerous warehouse shelters that negatively impact both residents and shelter occupants.
This is not about NIMBYism. We support safe, humane housing and comprehensive services for those in need. But warehouse shelters siloed in limited neighborhoods and developed by bad actors are a failed model—dangerous for permanent and temporary residents. Greenwood Heights will not be sacrificed to political negligence and developer greed.
We stand united and will continue to organize, speak out, and fight for a fair and just city.
This week, DHS informed us, local elected officials, and the community board that David Levitan’s massive warehouse shelter facility at 225 25th Street is scheduled to open this year. If this project moves forward, it will house 200+ men in a congregate facility.
While shelters are closing across New York City, our neighborhood is again targeted for another large-scale facility—with zero transparency, no community input, and no clear strategy for long-term solutions. Most troubling is the involvement of David Levitan, one of New York City’s worst landlords, notorious for thousands of open housing violations and dangerous facility management.
Our community deserves answers:
What obligations do city officials have to Levitan and his associates to repeatedly award them lucrative no-bid shelter contracts?
Why is our neighborhood continuously burdened with shelter after shelter, and why does the city not follow its fair share policy when it comes to Sunset Park?
The consequences of this decision are deeply troubling and cannot be ignored. The 25th Street subway station is already known for safety issues, hygiene concerns, and overcrowding. Now, imagine adding over 200+ men to this environment—with narrow, poorly-lit streets, a subway station with only one exit, warehouses, empty lots, and inadequate social services and infrastructure—is a serious and immediate risk to every community member—especially residents who rely on the 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th Street corridors daily. This decision dangerously compromises the safety of our entire community.
Let’s be clear: We support providing proper housing and comprehensive social services that respect the dignity, privacy, and safety of vulnerable individuals in our district. However, extensive research consistently shows that large-scale warehouse shelters are unsafe, dehumanizing, and ineffective. They often fail the very people they intend to help, forcing many individuals back onto the streets—that is exactly what we are afraid of.
Our City Council representative holds significant power to influence this decision. It’s crucial to communicate clearly to them that our community’s support and votes depend on effectively opposing Levitan’s plans. Local elected officials have substantial influence, especially when communities like ours are unfairly impacted.
It is important to note that Levitan is an extremely powerful developer with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake. Their co-conspirators appear in many forms and shapes: non-profit managers, “artists” selling “creative placemaking” services, city officials, and local influencers who leverage their positions to intimidate and silence neighbors who raise their basic legitimate concerns. It’s crucial that we recognize their tactics clearly and engage strategically—staying focused on the facts, and adherence to city policies.
Our strength lies in unified, informed collective action grounded in truth. We firmly support humane and dignified public housing for everyone—not warehouses run by corrupt developers who exploit vulnerable communities for profit. The current system is fundamentally broken. We demand transparency, accountability, and genuine long-term housing solutions; anything less perpetuates injustice, deepens inequality, and compromises the health and safety of our neighborhoods.
Now, We Need Your Support!
We’ve launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover essential costs: https://gofund.me/4396b3b6. Donations will support printing, web services, email marketing tools, and community outreach and ads. Your contribution will help us effectively fight back and maintain transparent communication. All finances will be openly shared on our website. If we surpass our funding goals, we aim to hire legal representation to protect our community from exploitation by unethical developers.
We urgently need volunteers, including legal experts, advocates, and committed residents who can gather signatures, and reach out to other neighbors. Please reply to this email and tell us how you would like to help.
We are in conversation with our community board and will hold an internal GWHA community meeting soon—tentatively scheduled for April 3rd, 4th, or 5th. Please stay tuned for details.
**Please widely share this announcement with your local networks, community groups, and associations
Urgente: Albergue Masivo para Más de 200 Hombres en 225 25th Street—¡Debemos Actuar Ahora!
Queridos Vecinos,
Esta semana, el DHS nos informó a nosotros, a los funcionarios electos locales y a la junta comunitaria que la enorme instalación de refugio tipo almacén de David Levitan en 225 25th Street está programada para abrir este año. Si este proyecto avanza, albergará a más de 200 hombres en un espacio compartido.
Mientras los albergues están cerrando en toda la ciudad, nuestro vecindario vuelve a ser el objetivo de otra instalación a gran escala—sin transparencia, sin consulta comunitaria y sin una estrategia clara para soluciones a largo plazo. Lo más preocupante es la participación de David Levitan, uno de los peores propietarios de Nueva York, conocido por miles de violaciones de vivienda y por administrar instalaciones en condiciones peligrosas.
Nuestra comunidad merece respuestas:
¿Por qué nuestro vecindario sigue siendo sobrecargado con refugios, mientras la ciudad ignora su propia política de distribución equitativa en Sunset Park?
¿Qué compromisos tienen los funcionarios de la ciudad con Levitan y sus socios para otorgarles contratos millonarios sin licitación una y otra vez?
Las consecuencias de esta decisión son alarmantes y no pueden ser ignoradas. La estación del metro de 25th Street ya es conocida por problemas de seguridad, higiene y hacinamiento. Ahora, imaginen agregar más de 200 hombres a este entorno—con calles estrechas y mal iluminadas, una estación de metro con una sola salida, almacenes, terrenos baldíos y una infraestructura social insuficiente. Esto representa un grave e inmediato riesgo para toda la comunidad, especialmente para los residentes que dependen diariamente de los corredores de las calles 23rd, 24th, 25th y 26th.
No nos equivoquemos: No estamos en contra de la vivienda digna.
Apoyamos la creación de vivienda adecuada y servicios sociales integrales que respeten la dignidad, privacidad y seguridad de las personas vulnerables. Pero los refugios masivos tipo almacén no son la solución. Numerosos estudios han demostrado que estos albergues son inseguros, deshumanizantes e ineficaces. A menudo, fallan en ayudar a las personas que más lo necesitan, empujándolas nuevamente a las calles—y eso es precisamente lo que tememos.
Nuestros funcionarios electos pueden detener esto.
Nuestra representante del Concejo Municipal tiene poder para frenar esta decisión. Es fundamental dejar en claro que nuestra comunidad apoya a quienes se oponen al plan de Levitan y que nuestros votos dependerán de su compromiso.
Levitan y sus aliados usan tácticas de intimidación.
Levitan es un desarrollador con cientos de millones de dólares en juego. Sus cómplices aparecen en distintas formas: administradores de organizaciones sin fines de lucro que dependen de su financiamiento, “artistas” que venden servicios de “placemaking” a desarrolladores, funcionarios de la ciudad y personas influyentes locales que usan su poder para intimidar y silenciar a los vecinos que expresan preocupaciones legítimas. Es crucial reconocer sus tácticas y responder con hechos, organización y una defensa clara de nuestras políticas locales.
Exigimos transparencia y responsabilidad.
Nuestra fuerza radica en la acción colectiva, informada y unificada. Apoyamos la creación de vivienda pública digna y humana, no almacenes administrados por desarrolladores corruptos que explotan a las comunidades vulnerables para enriquecerse. El sistema actual está roto, y exigimos soluciones reales y a largo plazo. Cualquier otra cosa perpetúa la injusticia, profundiza la desigualdad y pone en riesgo la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestros vecindarios.
Las donaciones ayudarán a financiar impresiones, servicios web, herramientas de correo electrónico y anuncios para difusión comunitaria. Tu contribución nos permitirá organizar una defensa efectiva y mantener una comunicación transparente. Todas las finanzas serán publicadas en nuestra página web. Si superamos nuestra meta, destinaremos los fondos adicionales a contratar asesoría legal para proteger a nuestra comunidad de desarrolladores abusivos.
Necesitamos voluntarios, incluyendo expertos legales, defensores comunitarios y vecinos comprometidos para ayudar con recolección de firmas y difusión. Responde a este correo y dinos cómo te gustaría ayudar.
Estamos en comunicación con nuestra junta comunitaria y pronto organizaremos una reunión interna de GWHA—tentativamente programada para los días 3, 4 o 5 de abril. Mantente atento a más detalles.
Comparte ampliamente este anuncio con tus redes, grupos comunitarios y asociaciones locales.
¡Esta es nuestra comunidad y juntos podemos defenderla!
Open Letter From Greenwood Heights Association, Representing Over 800 Residents and Business Owners: An Urgent Call for Transparency and Equity in Shelter Planning at 225 25th Street, Brooklyn
Dear Mayor Adams,
We are writing to you as a community that feels increasingly overlooked and overwhelmed by decisions that directly impact our lives and our neighborhood’s future. While we have been told by DHS management that the proposed shelter at 225 25th Street, Brooklyn, has not been approved, the ongoing frantic renovations at the site—carried out by a developer with a troubling history—have left us deeply concerned and even more disheartened.
David Levitan (Liberty One LLC), the developer involved in this project, has an alarming record of 1,871 open violations across his properties. This includes numerous safety and construction violations, demonstrating a blatant disregard for basic regulatory standards and the livelihood of the people of this beautiful city. Our experience as a community has shown that such developers, coupled with questionable non-profits, often prioritize profit over people, leaving shelter residents and neighborhood communities to deal with the consequences of their negligence. Nevertheless, the city keeps insisting on working with such developers. For instance, according to a recent FOIL request, the city is paying more than $52,000 per day for Levitan’s recently opened 3rd Street shelter in Gowanus–which amounts to over $44 million between 2024 and 2026. Of that, Levitan’s real estate company will collect over $13.5 million in rent alone for a building he purchased for $19.5 million. Additionally, $8.25 million is being allocated just for security, with no transparency about how the money is spent. The city effectively is paying this NGO/developer-combo upwards of $5,000 per person a month. Imagine what that $44 million could do if invested in affordable housing or critical services for our community! These are the types of contracts that developers like Levitan thrive on while our neighborhood continues to suffer.
The lack of accountability surrounding this project—and others like it—only adds to our frustration. Despite assurances that the shelter is “very early in the consideration pipeline,” ongoing construction and the absence of transparency suggest otherwise. Our concerns have been ignored, and decisions made behind closed doors. As residents and business owners, we wonder who is looking out for us, especially when our local representatives seem unwilling to take a clear position for their community.
Our neighborhood, Greenwood Heights, Sunset Park, has consistently shouldered an inequitable share of shelters, with nine within a seven-block radius of the proposed site. This intense clustering violates the City’s Fair Share Criteria and has left us grappling with a strained infrastructure, overwhelmed resources, and mounting safety concerns.
Over 800 residents and business owners have signed our petition demanding action, yet our voices continue to go unheard.
We are not writing to oppose helping those in need. We want well-run, transparent public shelters equitably distributed across all neighborhoods. We cannot accept a system that overburdens already struggling communities while rewarding untrustworthy developers and non-profits.
We turn to you, Mayor Adams, because leadership begins with listening to the people you serve. We request your intervention to restore fairness and trust in this process. Specifically, we urge you to ensure equity and conduct a citywide review of shelter placements to confirm adherence to Fair Share Criteria and halt further clustering in Greenwood Heights. Also, we want you to direct DSS/DHS to engage with our community, hold a town hall meeting to address our concerns, and allow for meaningful public dialogue.
Greenwood Heights is not asking for more than any neighborhood deserves—a voice in decisions shaping our future and a commitment to policies that serve everyone fairly. We ask you to stand with us and show that our community is not alone in this struggle for fairness, accountability, and equity.
Respectfully,
Greenwood Heights Association Representing more than 800 local residents and businesses
