Ayisha Doyle and her mother are facing the threat of eviction from their cherished Bedford-Stuyvesant residence. A partition sale, which has been approved by a New York City court, has put their ownership in jeopardy.
In 2017, the family property underwent a turmoil after Doyle’s uncle reportedly sold 75% of it to Theodore Zucker, a real estate investor from Long Island. The situation became complicated due to the estrangement between Doyle and his uncle.
Doyle and her mother were taken aback by this sudden decision, as they had just finished paying off the mortgage on their family home that had been with them for more than 50 years.
According to local reports, Doyle’s initial knowledge of the transaction came from an unexpected phone call by a man who claimed to have acquired the stake through a company called Arlo 67 LLC, which is associated with Zucker.
Upon learning about this, the Doyles were prompted to take swift legal action in order to safeguard their property. This matter is compounded by the fact that Doyle’s grandmother’s will was never officially validated after her passing in 2007. According to records, Zucker reportedly acquired the share for $300,000, along with a deed that was purportedly signed and notarized in Australia.
Doyle and her lawyer have challenged Zucker’s acquisition, doubting his capability to track down Giles and provide evidence of payment. Zucker’s first three attempts to enforce a partition sale were dismissed by judges, who concluded that Arlo 67 LLC had no valid claim since Giles never legally obtained any share to transfer.
Despite three unsuccessful attempts, the Bed-Stuy home was eventually sold through a partition sale on a technicality. The property was recently auctioned on June 6th for a whopping $1.7 million, and Zucker’s LLC emerged as the buyer of the estate. However, the sale is yet to be finalized.
“The court, in issuing their judgment of partition and sale and allowing the premises to proceed to auction, has confirmed that Arlo has a valid ownership interest therein,” stated Zucker’s attorney.
The New York State Attorney General’s office has taken a proactive approach to address cases of foreclosure and deed theft by organizing community sessions that aim to prevent such occurrences.
Moreover, there has been an allocation of $150 million to provide financial aid for legal services that can help homeowners. This allocation is a result of the recognition of the pressing need to safeguard vulnerable property owners from the risk of partition sales and other similar threats.
The historic home owned by Doyle and her mother is now at risk of being lost, which is a devastating outcome for them.
