Complaint Review: Andrew Edlin - Lansky Enterprises

BEWARE of LANSKY Enterprise, Andrew Edlin, LANSKY Partnership, HT Group, HT Memphis, Chuck Taylor; they are SLUMLORDS

Rent from their many residential and commercial property at your own risk! Several of their shopping centers are under major code violations (Cascade Heights Shopping Center and West End Mall), health hazards (asbestos and siliceous dusk), high crime (the beauty salon close because the owner got shot in the head, the air conditioning units were stolen from the entire shopping center at 2 properties and the Lansky Enterprise did not repair).

Beware of moving your viable business to any of their locations. Its like moving Macys to a Flea Market!!! The rent to tenants that do not have proper licensing, criminal backgrounds, no US citizens. Furthermore, the rent valuations are well over market rate for condition and age of their properties.

The Lansky Enterprise and/or HT Group have been cited with the EPA and other governmental authorities for Illegal Construction Dumping and Asbestos Contamination in their Cascade Heights Shopping Center. They do not have any regard for the patrons of the shopping center or its tenants. Any work they have done on any of their older properties never have any asbestos testing done nor has their been any signage informing the community about construction or an issuance of building permit. They continue to improperly dump hazardous materials unto the surrounding community.

If you ever have any issues with this landlord and try to get The City of Atlanta involve they will turn the other cheek. The Lansky family gives to annual funds City funds (city, and statewide) and the Georgia Aquarium. I was told when I reported my issues by a representative of the above names, what can you really do? I run this town!

In 2009 their contractors illegally dumped asbestos material in the back of the Cascade Heights Shopping Center. A Styles by Delores Employee was exposed the Asbestos after the illegal dumping of construction material. The Employee skin began to burn and breathing was irregular. Also other tenants in the shopping Center were exposed to the Asbestos. The empty space where the illegal construction was going on did not have any posting of Notice of Construction or Building Permit, nor was the construction workers qualified, or held a certificate from the EPA that it was asbestos free. Furthermore, the Landlord Lansky Enterprises or the HT Group did not provided trash removal for their waste and dumped it into a surrounding neighborhood trash! The construction workers also illegally dumped hazardous material into Styles by Delores Waste Containers. The EPA Federal emergency team was called and came out confirming tenants worst fears that its asbestos in the tiles that were removed and throughout the center. Asbestos only is activated when disturbed. Lansky Enterprise and HT Group have had several code violations with not obeying Code Compliance. They have also paid off inspectors to over look faulty thing. The roof has been leaking for over several years. The Cascade Heights shopping Center also contains other elements that are hazardous to the environment. Due to the neglect of the roof issues, sheetrock and plaster ceiling are caving in, along with mold growing on interior and exterior walls. One establishment in their building is a disaster waiting to happen. It contains gas and mixed oils. If someone just accidently drops a cigarette, their goes the entire building!!

As a long time resident of the community that surrounds these slumlords property. I am telling you all to BEWARE when doing business with LANSKY Enterprise, Andrew Edlin, LANSKY Partnership, HT Group, HT Memphis, Chuck Taylor; they are SLUMLORDS. THEY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU!!!

Below are all the press done on the building owned by the above mention names and emails from EPD, EPA, Code Enforcement. Its so much so I am posting on recent stuff!

List of their properties

Ben Hill Plaza Brockett Plaza Carriage Station Campbellton Plaza Cascade Heights Chateau Plaza Covington Plaza Dogwood Plaza Hampshire Plaza Parkview Plaza Red Oak Plaza Salem Square South Plaza Tahoe Village Tahoe Junior Village Square Youngstowne Square

Following are emails;

From: Renshaw, Mike Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 12:55 PM To: Maddox, Jim Cc: Conner, Debra; Giornelli, Gregory J ; Franklin, Shirley; Lee, Terri; Carter, Anthony; Maslamani, Ibrahim; Shelby, James

Subject: FW: Asbestos Breakout In Cascade Heights Shopping Center due to Illegal Construction and Dumping!! EPA Involved!! I

Importance: High

Dear Councilmember Maddox-

My office contacted the State Environmental Protection Department (EPD) this morning and was advised that the testing of the roofing materials came back positive for asbestos. The City does have an open building permit for the repair of the existing roof. The EPD will continue their investigation concerning the disturbance of the asbestos containing materials and take appropriate enforcement action.

Regards, Mike Renshaw Director,

Bureau of Code Compliance

From: Hines, Sandra

Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 12:06 PM

To: Renshaw, Mike; Conner, Debra Subject:

FW: Asbestos Breakout In Cascade Heights Shopping Center due to Illegal Construction and Dumping!! EPA Involved!!

Importance: High

I spoke with Mr. Perry (EPD) and he informed me that the test was positive for Asbestos. The owner has a current Building Permit (BB 200901261) to reroof the building.

From: Maddox, Jim

Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 11:21 AM

To: 'Sidney Boatwright' Cc: Renshaw, Mike; Franklin, Shirley; Conner, Debra; Hines, Sandra; Wiggins, Cayward

Subject: RE: Asbestos Breakout In Cascade Heights Shopping Center due to Illegal Construction and Dumping!! EPA Involved!!

Importance: High

Mr. Renshaw and Staff:

Can you please provide an update to the concern below?

Sincerely, Myesha C. Good Chief of Staff Office of Councilmember Jim Maddox

55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 2900

Atlanta, Georgia 30303

tel: 404.330.6054fax: 404.658.6061

email: mcgood@atlantaga.gov

From: Sidney Boatwright

Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2009 12:42 PM

To: Maddox, Jim Cc: Renshaw, Mike; Franklin, Shirley; Conner, Debra; Hines, Sandra; Wiggins, Cayward

Subject: Re: Asbestos Breakout In Cascade Heights Shopping Center due to Illegal Construction and Dumping!! EPA Involved!!

Mr. Maddox Could you please provide me with an update of the Asbestos-Illegal dumping findings at the Cascade Heights Shopping Center? I would like to know if the responsible party will be fined and held responsible.

I saw the following stories on CBS Atlanta Channel 46 and WSB Channel 2 in regards to the illegal dumping. EPA indeed found Asbestos in the trash container field with construction debris. I've attached the reports for your viewing. (((Redacted)))This is a second story regarding illegal dumping http://www.cbsatlanta.com/video/20497365/index.html If you notice the common denominator is predominate minority neighborhoods. I've also attached pictures of the construction going on. Was there a permit for this type of construction? Why were there not any asbestos testing done before any removal of the ceiling-floor tiles. Is it a law that building made before the 70s be tested for asbestos? Are the landlord and/or the contractors being fined for illegally dumping of hazardous materials into Styles by Delores trash can and on the rear of the Shopping center? Why were there not any notices of construction posted? What code inspector came out to investigate and what were there findings? Also what has been the citing in the entire building? I have notice with the naked eye, falling plaster, a lawn care shop with lawnmowers and oil leaking, mold, exposed wiring, structural damage. This is the second time this shopping center has gone renovation-construction. A couple of years ago they removed the entire front of the Cascade Heights Shopping Center. Why was the Asbestos testing not done then? Please do not allow the responsible parties fall through the crack! Sadly, illegal dumping and hazardous conditions in predominately minority areas are not handled properly. I would appreciate your support on getting this issue handled properly and the Landlord-Contractors held responsible for the infractions.

Thanks in advance

On Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 12:59 PM, Maddox, Jim wrote: To: Code Compliance Attn: Mike Renshaw, Director Code Compliance Cc: Debra Conner, Deputy Director Sandra Hines, Supervisor Cayward Wiggins, Administrative Assistant Concern Constituent Shirley Franklin, Mayor, City of Atlanta

Date Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2009

From: Councilman Jim Maddox, District 11

Please see the email below that was received today regarding the Cascade Heights Shopping Center. Please investigate, rectify, and update my office as well as the concerned constituent who is copied on this email.

Thank you.