Disputes in actual property are nothing new. However a dispute that leads an proprietor’s brother to being handcuffed? That’s a rarer breed.
Thomas Makkos was arrested final week for failing to offer entry to 349 West thirty seventh Road within the Garment District, which his brother, George, is making an attempt to promote. Apex Investments, which is beneath contract to buy the six-story constructing, was trying to conduct customary inspections, Crain’s reported.
In court docket filings, Apex alleges Thomas denied entry to the economic property on no less than 5 events. That features two incidents in Could that noticed an environmental consulting crew on web site for a full day and an incident the place Thomas was given 48 hours’ discover beforehand.
Thomas’ legal professional declined to remark to the publication, whereas George’s legal professional didn’t reply to a request for remark.
It’s unclear why Thomas is making an attempt to stop his brother from promoting the Garment District property, which homes Rainbow Wholesale and Good Enterprise Corp. The Makkos household made a fortune with its M&T Pretzel meals cart enterprise earlier than branching into actual property; Thomas owns the Nello restaurant, which is within the strategy of relocating after an obvious hire dispute.
However this constructing has introduced issues for George earlier than. Within the fall of 2024, he signed a cope with an government of Stealth Deeptech Firm to promote the constructing, just for it to disintegrate, main George to accuse the manager of a contract breach.
That failed sale led to a lawsuit and countersuit, placing a short lived injunction on a sale to Apex. That authorized dispute is in a discovery part, additional holding up any sale of the property.
Apex can hold busy with different tasks within the metropolis because it waits out the struggle. Final month, it filed plans to redevelop a Speedway gasoline station web site at 530 Utica Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens right into a 15-story, 224-unit housing mission.
The proposed 200,000-square-foot constructing will function retail and enterprise house on the bottom flooring, together with facilities comparable to a tenant lounge, laundry amenities, out of doors house and neighborhood house.
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