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Owner of collapsed Brooklyn building is a notorious slumlord, tax deadbeat who owes $450K debt
The owner of a Brooklyn building that collapsed onto a neighbouring construction site, killing eight people, owes more than $450,000 in fines, taxes and water bills, according to city records cited in the article. Olufemi Falade has appeared on New York City’s Worst Landlords Watchlist six times, and the building had 98 open housing violations before it collapsed.
The reported debts include $170,000 in building fines, nearly $115,000 in water bills, about $114,000 in property taxes, and further personal tax debts to federal and state authorities. The city is still investigating the collapse; excavation plans for the adjacent site had been approved despite reportedly lacking structural support beside the building. Falade was previously jailed for 12 days and fined $50,000 over more than 1,800 violations at properties he owned.
In short
- Brooklyn landlord Olufemi Falade owes more than $450,000.
- The collapsed building had 98 open housing violations.
- The city is investigating the role of the adjacent excavation.
Explained simply
New York City landlords must follow housing rules that cover safe conditions, repairs and essential services such as water. The city can issue violations and fines when buildings fall short, while property owners also owe taxes and water charges.
Olufemi Falade owns buildings in Brooklyn and has previously faced city penalties over housing violations. The city’s Worst Landlords Watchlist names property owners with records of serious housing problems; being listed does not itself establish responsibility for a later accident.
When a building stands beside a construction site, excavation can affect the ground and nearby structures, so plans may need to include measures to support them. The collapse is under investigation, including how the adjacent site was planned and whether the building was adequately protected.