Fillmore Promotions Announced

Sharon Bennett Jean Paul Ho, right, vice president of Fillmore Avenue L Real Estate, officially announced the promotions of some sales professionals who are responsible for the significant growth and success of their office. “These individuals have shown and proven their dedication, loyalty, sacrifices, knowledge and commitment to Fillmore Avenue L and Fillmore Real Estate, LTD. Without this team we would not be in this position today.” Ho said in five years they are positioning themselves to be in Manhattan, Queens (Tri State Area) and Coney Island. “As we grow, we are looking forward to more management and team leadership growth,” he added.

Those receiving promotions included: Hayden Stephen, on-site associate manager of MeadowWood at Gateway Condominiums; Earl Satalhoo, off-site associate manager of Southwyck Estates; Natasha Creary, on-site associate manager of Lafayette Estates co-op; Sean Bristol, on-site associate manager of Lafayette Estates; Linda Pontolillo, on-site associate manager of Mill Harbor condominium; Beverly Gordon, on-site Director, Grants & Programs, HPD, NHS, HP, MeadowWood at Gateway.” Others cited included Berthony Poux, branch associate manager; Carine Eustache Jones, associate manager “New Fillmore Avenue L Team.”

September 12, 2006 — A stalled East Flatbush condo is getting a capital infusion and new owners.

Taconic Partners and Apollo Real Estate just paid $90 million for 983 apartments in Fairfield Towers, spread across 19 buildings on two campuses.

The buildings are just north of the new Gateway Center retail project and sit between Flatlands and Cozine Avenues. The eastern group is bounded by Jerome and Elton Streets and the western group by New Jersey and Van Siclen Avenues.

The former Mitchell Lama buildings were converted to market condos in the early 1990s, but only 167 units of the 1,152 were sold. Two units are super apartments and the rest have since been rented out with no effort made towards sales. The current seller, the Lightstone Group, has owned them for a short time.

Taconic Partners’ Charles Bendit says the new group intends to sell the units at prices that will range around $275 a foot for insiders to $300 for outsiders – a far cry from Manhattan’s $1,100- to $1,500-a-foot tabs for entry-level luxury buildings.

Five percent now vacant will be renovated prior to sale. Eleven buildings are eight and nine stories with studios through three bedrooms, while eight two-story townhouses have two- and three-bedroom units. Outsider prices are expected to range from $100,000 to $300,000.

The low stickers are being made possible through the New York City Housing Partnership, City Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the New York Community Bank, which will provide financing packages for buyers.

The owners are investing another $40 million on items including the continuation of elevator modernization, roofs, windows and balcony doors, along with new landscaping.

Granite Partners represented the Lightstone Group sellers while Taconic and Apollo were assisted with acquisition financing by Evan Pariser of Holliday Fenoglio Fowler.

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Is there trouble in River City?

“When you expect to get $1,500 a foot and get $1,400 a foot, is that trouble?” Taconic Partners’ Bendit asked back. “Properties unique in nature are going to do well, and those not so unique are going to have competition.”

Robert Von Ancken who heads the Appraising and Consulting Group at Grubb & Ellis spoke at the National Realty Club yesterday and warned that speculative apartment-buyer investors, who comprised 30 percent of the market, have pulled out.

“It comes to a point where we don’t know where all these [buyers] are coming from,” Von Ancken said. “The city doesn’t have that many wealthy people, but most have places where they are living.”

lois.weiss@nypost.com

In order to help educate and give resources to the community during this time of economical turmoil, sales associates from Fillmore Real Estate’s Avenue L branch, spearheaded by Jean Paul Ho, recently volunteered to create a coalition of community leaders to take part in a seminar to address various options.

The coalition includes State Senator John Sampson, City Councilman Dr. Mathieu Eugene, Winchester Key, Law offices of Gail Adams, J.P. Morgan Chase, M&T Bank, New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Neighborhood Housing Service of Flatbush (NHS), C.H.A.N.G.E.R, Law office of William Reinhardt Jr. and attorneys from Common Law NYC and John Reinhardt, CEO of Fillmore R.E. The seminar was hosted in numerous languages, including Creole, and was held on October 5 at the Hebrew Education Society located at 9502 Seaview Avenue.

The “Foreclosure Prevention Seminar,” the first of its kind, was “similar to getting a health check,” said Ho, “and was strictly a non-profit meeting during which all the volunteers and attorneys rendered their services Pro Bono.

“We are committed to help and to give back to our community,” Ho added. ” And our main objective and goal is for everyone in our community — mostly zip codes 11236 and 11207 — to keep their home. Unlike other real estate brokers who are just looking to profit from this time of economical crisis by misinforming residents, we will exhaust all our options before we recommend someone put their home on the market!”

The real estate expert said this crisis affects everyone, “even those who are not late on their payments!

“We do not want to see boarded up homes or signs on every block in Canarsie for sale,” Ho told the coalition members. “Hopefully our action in giving back to the community will be a precedent on how other real estate firms should react!”

A survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York claims that the hardest hit section in the tri state area is 11207 — East New York, with over 3,000 sub-prime mortgages — followed by Canarsie, with over 2,000 sub-prime loans. Jean Paul Ho quoted politicians who recently said, “This is not just a Wall Street problem but a Main Street problem!”

To find out what you can do to stop foreclosure call 1-718-272-8096.

Top Honors Go To Fillmore Avenue L — Again And Again!

The “Team” at Fillmore Avenue L proudly gathered together when they were honored for being the #1 company-wide awardees for closings and contracts for ten consecutive years. For 40 years, Fillmore Real Estate’s office at 9317 Avenue L has been holding an annual award ceremony to sort of “pat themselves on the back” and duly praise their hard, successful and deserving workers. This year was no exception, as they held a beautiful award ceremony at the elegant El Caribe in Mill Basin.

A variety of honors for outstanding service to Fillmore and to the community were handed out by Fillmore Avenue L’s manager Jean Paul Ho, who has officiated at these same events for a number of years and has also received many honors himself.

For the 10th consecutive year, the Avenue L office received the award for #1 closings and #1 contracts in Brooklyn and $2 million in production, beating out 20 offices (that’s over 600 salespeople), including commercial and relocation offices too.

Another outstanding award went to a very special person: Avenue L’s Administrative Assistant Eileen Melecio, who received top honors and recognition for her friendliness, cordiality and, of course, her special organizational skills. The honors are well deserved, as are those given to Elise Kaplan and Cheryl.

Fillmore Avenue L Manager Jean Paul Ho awarded Rosemary Fitzpatrick her entry into the Million Dollars Club. Anita Yeung was honored as the top salesperson, company-wide, for the fourth consecutive year and the Team Award, created five years ago, has gone to the Avenue L office every year.

Upon receiving his accolades and awards for the past year, Jean Paul Ho dedicated the ceremony to the late chairman of Fillmore, William R. Reinhardt, who passed away last December, and to Lou Dellisirio, who died the previous year. Ho said everyone was grateful for the leadership, support and guidance of the pioneers.

Photos by Sonny Maxon

Assistant Manager Bert Poux is flanked by Man-ager Jean Paul, left, and Fillmore President John Reinhardt as he receives special honors.

Fillmore Avenue L Honored – Again – With Many Awards

Fillmore Avenue L officestaff For more than 40 years, Fillmore Real Estate’s Avenue L branch has rewarded its agents and hard workers following a successful year with a gala reception. This year was no different as the exquisite dinner ceremony was held at Gargiulo’s in Coney Island last week to present plaques to deserving honorees, some of whom are pictured below. Among the awards distributed was the No. 1 honor for Brooklyn closings and contracts, which they earned for the 11th consecutive year, Anita Yeung was the company’s No. 1 salesperson, Alicia Gordon was the firm’s Rising Star and Rosalyn Maynard was selected Rookie of the Year. Photos by Sonny Maxon

(From left) Patrice, John, William Jr. and Michael Reinhardt unveil portrait of recently deceased William Reinhardt, founder of Fillmore Realty. (From left)Bert Poux, Imogene Yuen, holding her Mentoring Program award and Jean Paul Ho. (From left)John Rheinhardt, Jean Paul Ho, Bert Poux, holding award for No. 1 Closing and Contracts team, and Marian Arbia. Rookie of the Year Alicia Gordon and John Reinhardt David Floyd Mill with Million Dollar Club award. Fillmore’s No. 1 salesperson Anita Yeung receives award from John Reinhardt. Jean Paul Ho (left)and John Reinhardt

Santa Makes Annual Visit To Fillmore Holiday Party

Left to right, rear: Christopher Burnett, Reina Thomas, Beverly Gordon, Bert Poux, Elise Kaplan, Ana Roca, Monsurat Oshobajo, Marisol Flores, Jean Paul Ho, Natasha Neals Creary. Front, left to right, Corinne Eustache Jones, (Elf) Billy Valentine, Rodney Ward (Santa), and Jason Coke. Not shown: Jean Vrine and Janet James. Photos by Barry Fischer You can count on it every year as Fillmore Avenue L Real Estate throws one of the best office parties around for their employees and families.

Vice President Jean Paul Ho knows just what to do, of course – especially who to invite – and that includes Santa Claus himself, plus a special elf or two.

This year, the jolly old guy brought a ton of goodies for all the youngsters, along with a ton of food and goodies for everyone else, which kept the party, held on Saturday evening, running happily for hours and hours.

“…And what can I bring you for Christmas?” Santa’s elf (Billy Valentine) gets a special hug. Now Santa’s the one being intimidated!

Fillmore Ave. L Honors Members At Annual Dinner

Fillmore Avenue L recipients of the Million Dollar Club Award proudly show their certificates during gala held Tuesday at El Caribe. Photos by Barry Fischer Fillmore Real Estate’s Avenue L branch last Tuesday chose the beautiful El Caribe in Mill Basin to honor and reward all the employees and agents for the successes during the past year. Despite the housing industry’s economic problems, Fillmore Avenue L still was able to celebrate their successes, as they prepared for the challenges ahead.

The awards ceremony was not unlike a Hall of Fame presentation or movie industry Oscar show, with stellar agents receiving their awards throughout the evening.

Fillmore President John Reinhardt distributed certificates and plaques for individual, as well as coordinated achievements.

Jean Paul Ho, right, with award recipient Bert Poux.Fillmore President John Reinhardt, right, returns accolades as he receives a roaring ovation during ceremony.Fillmore Avenue L Real Estate agents show their special awards. That’s Manager Jean Paul Ho on the left.