The Issues at Fordham Hill
Fordham Hill faces serious challenges.
We believe in facing them head-on with facts, not rumors.
The Bottom Line: Why We Need a Special Meeting
Runaway Debt & Spending
Our mortgages have skyrocketed to $54M while our reserve funds have been severely depleted by 85%, leading to constant maintenance hikes.
Project Mismanagement
Millions have been paid to contractors for the electrical project with little oversight, resulting in massive delays and a demand for refunds.
Governance Blackout
The board is withholding legally required documents, and three long-time members recently resigned without explanation to shareholders.
Board Conduct & Conflicts
The Problem
Concerns about leadership integrity and compliance with the law.
Hidden Conflicts
Shareholders have not received the Annual Conflict of Interest Report required by NY State Law, despite it being verified that a board member's company performed compensated construction and repair work for the corporation.
Bypassing Votes
Major development deals require a 2/3 shareholder vote. The board appears to be seeking legal "loopholes" to negotiate land deals without our consent.
Sudden Resignations
Three long-time board members recently resigned. The remaining leadership has refused to provide any explanation to the shareholders.
If they aren't following basic disclosure laws, what other laws are being ignored?
Our Solution
Strict enforcement of conflict of interest policies, full disclosure of all board member business relationships, and ensuring no land deals happen without a full 2/3 shareholder vote.
Transparency & Governance
Shareholders are consistently kept in the dark about critical financial and operational decisions.
The Facts
I had to sue Fordham Hill in order to get basic records that are legally required to be given to shareholders. Since then, they have stonewalled a second request for information relevant to the severe issues outlined on this site.
When leadership operates in secrecy, mismanagement thrives. We deserve to know how our money is being spent, who is getting the contracts, and why decisions are made without our input.
Our Solution
We will follow the law, provide required shareholder information, communicate better and provide shareholders with the opportunity to weigh in on important decisions.
Maintenance Increases
Our monthly costs are rising at an unsustainable rate while basic services rapidly decline.
The Facts
Annual maintenance increases have outpaced inflation, yet deferred maintenance piles up. There is little explanation for where the extra funds are going.
❄️ Paying More to Freeze
Despite skyrocketing costs, basic utilities are failing. At the Feb 2026 meeting, residents raised ongoing, unresolved heating issues, and the board's answer was more costly "studies" instead of actual fixes.
Our Solution
A complete forensic audit of all vendor contracts and operational expenses to identify waste and negotiate better rates.
Staffing & Efficiency
Our current staffing model is outdated, leading to high overtime costs and poor resident service.
The Facts
We have serious concerns about how staff are allocated across the complex. Despite a large payroll, we see high overtime costs and agonizingly slow responsiveness to routine shareholder service requests.
Maintenance workers are frequently seen without clear direction, while essential upkeep falls by the wayside. A modern co-op requires a professionally managed workforce that justifies the costs we pay.
Our Solution
Conduct a professional staffing study to ensure we have the right people in the right roles to serve residents efficiently.
Scaffolding & Quality of Life
Endless construction projects have turned our beautiful complex into a permanent, dusty worksite.
The Facts
Scaffolding remains up for extended periods with little visible progress, destroying our curb appeal, blocking natural light from our apartments, and creating safety hazards on the grounds.
Projects are started with poor planning and weak oversight, leaving residents to deal with the noise, dust, and disruption indefinitely. There is no accountability for contractors who fail to meet deadlines.
Our Solution
Prioritize project completion. We will set strict deadlines for contractors and enforce penalties for delays.
Electrical Project: Millions paid; years delayed
Millions of dollars have been paid to contractors for years with almost nothing to show for it.
The Facts
Summary: Court filings allege that after years of payments, a November 2024 walkthrough found less than $1 million in materials purchased, delivered, or installed.
- Jul '22: $4.2M 'Project Trust Fund' payment request.
- May-Aug '23: $472,500 in requisitions paid.
- Oct '24: $237,725.83 requisition paid.
- Nov '24: walkthrough shows < $1M in materials.
- Demand: $4,580,369 refund; cost to complete ≥$8,576,000.
If millions were approved across 2022–2024, what controls existed to verify work before payments?
Our Solution
Independent engineering review of the entire project to ensure safety and code compliance immediately.
Garage & Parking: Safety + revenue at risk
The co-op owns the garage, yet we are pushed into inadequate outdoor parking and shuttle vans.
The Facts
The garage is a core shareholder amenity and a revenue source. Court papers describe a structural safety hazard and long-running equipment issues—while residents lose convenient parking.
- Court papers quote an engineer describing a "structural safety hazard" and saying the garage "should not be opened to the public."
- Garage elevator issues cited since early 2020.
- Now the garage tenant has filed for bankruptcy—making resolution harder and slower.
Owning here is supposed to include access to that garage. This situation is unacceptable.
Our Solution
Resolve the dispute through competent negotiation or decisive legal action to secure this revenue stream.
Property Values
While neighboring complexes see healthy appreciation, our home values are stagnating and falling behind.
The Facts
While neighboring complexes see healthy appreciation, Fordham Hill property values lag behind.
Market data from publicly available listing sources.
Our Solution
We must restore the reputation and desirability of our complex to protect our largest asset.
Weaponizing House Rules
Instead of answering difficult financial questions, board representatives explicitly threatened to use House Rules to fine dissenting voices.
The Facts
At the February 2026 Shareholder Meeting, when faced with heated questions regarding the co-op's finances, board representatives explicitly threatened to rewrite the Co-op House Rules to fine shareholders and punish what the board subjectively deems 'bad behavior' at meetings.
What This Means For You
- Potential fines for questioning the board
- Silencing of dissenting shareholder voices
- Less transparency during annual meetings
A board works for the shareholders, not the other way around.
Our Solution
Protect shareholder rights to free speech, end the threats of retaliation, and guarantee transparent answers to all financial inquiries.
Protecting our Seniors
Our most vulnerable residents are bearing the brunt of rising costs and declining services.
The Facts
Many of our seniors live on fixed incomes and cannot afford endless maintenance increases. They also suffer the most from inadequate heating and the ongoing lack of cooking gas in our buildings.
Additionally, those who wish to sell are often trapped. The co-op's dire financial situation and draconian, lengthy board approval processes make it nearly impossible to attract buyers, trapping our seniors when they need options the most.
Our Solution
Freeze maintenance increases, ensure reliable heat and gas, and overhaul the sales process so seniors can easily realize their property values when they are ready to sell.
Have an issue not listed here?
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