Syracuse, N.Y. –The real-estate company founded by Troy and Tim Green failed to meet a June 15 deadline to sell off all its rental properties in the city of Syracuse, officials say.
In a sign that officials are getting frustrated with a landlord whose buildings have been marred by a homicide, crime, filth and unlivable conditions, City Hall went to court last week.
“We want the sale to happen as quickly as possible,” said city spokesman Greg Loh. “We’re going to take the steps needed to make that happen.”
In its filing, the city said the Greens had agreed to sell all their properties in the city by June 15. Had they met that deadline, the city was willing to waive unpaid fines for codes violations.
Syracuse filed a claim in court Sept. 13 for $125,000 for fines on four buildings the Greens have not sold.
The company began selling off its property within the city in February.
At one point, Green National owned 10 apartment complexes in Syracuse and one in Dewitt. It has sold seven of them. The company still owns three on James Street — the Skyline Apartments, the James and Chestnut Crossing. It also owns The Vincent in Syracuse’s Southside neighborhood.
According to public records, there are open code violations at all four. The 13 open code violations include 11 that are past compliance deadlines. The violations include malfunctioning elevators at two buildings, a broken security door and mice in one apartment.
In recent years, tenants have complained of violence, drug dealings, roach infestations, broken locks, broken elevators and human waste in common areas at Green National properties. Earlier this year, the state attorney general’s office kept $250,000 of the Greens’ money when their firm failed to correct violations at the four buildings.
In early 2021, 93-year-old Connie Tuori was murdered in her apartment at the Skyline Apartments. Tenants had been complaining for years before the murder about living conditions.
Green National, whose properties include a heavy focus on affordable housing, was founded by Tim Green, a former Syracuse football star, and his son Troy.
Tim is listed on the company’s website as a partner. He was diagnosed with ALS in 2018. His son is the company’s chief executive officer.
Troy Green said in January that the Skyline Apartments were under contract to be sold, although he has not commented on the sale since.
Green declined comment to syracuse.com again on Wednesday. He said that was a requirement of the agreement with the purchaser.
City spokesperson Brooke Schneider said that the city has been in contact with the proposed buyer whom she declined to identify.
The city believes the Greens intend to sell their remaining properties in Syracuse, but it does not know the timeline, Schneider said.
She said codes enforcement performs spot checks on the apartments and regularly monitors the properties for codes compliance. She said the city and Syracuse Police Department also monitors security at the buildings..
Contact Chris Carlson anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-382-7932
