Attorney General James Protects Affordable Housing for Rochester Tenants

March 4, 2026

NEW YORK - New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced new protections for 25 low-income families who were forced out of their affordable housing units in March 2025. The townhomes, part of the Los Flamboyanes affordable housing complex in Rochester, were subjected to a demolition and redevelopment plan overseen by Landsman Real Estate Services, Inc. and Landsman Development Corp. (Landsman). Landsman not only failed to notify tenants that they had a right to return to the newly built homes, but they also failed to pay tenants sufficient relocation payments, including payments for utility bills, that ensured they were financially protected from eviction while awaiting reconstruction of their homes. Today's agreement ensures that tenants are informed of their right to return to Los Flamboyanes in April 2027, when construction is estimated to be completed, and provides additional compensation.

"No one should be forced out of their home and denied the necessary resources to find a safe and affordable place to live," said Attorney General James. "Today's agreement puts money back in the pockets of Los Flamboyanes tenants who were misinformed of their rights and denied full relocation payments. My office will always stand up for tenants' rights and ensure Los Flamboyanes residents can return to their homes."

Landsman first informed Los Flamboyanes tenants they may be displaced in connection with a renovation project in April 2024. In December 2024, Landsman issued a 90-day notice to the remaining tenants occupying the townhomes, instructing them to vacate their homes by March 31, 2025. An investigation by OAG found that both of these notices violated the law by failing to fully and accurately inform tenants of their rights, and that Landsman failed to pay tenants sufficient relocation payments. Landsman is legally required to cover relocation costs for tenants, including increased rent and utilities, until the newly constructed townhomes are completed. However, Landsman informed eligible tenants they would receive a lump sum relocation payment capped at only $9,570.

In April 2025, OAG secured a settlement with Landsman to provide over $271,000 in additional Replacement Housing Payments (RHP) for tenants whose housing and utility costs during the construction period of Los Flamboyanes exceeded the lump sum payments from Landsman. The settlement also required Landsman to survey tenants and pay them additional relocation costs, including application fees and out-of-pocket costs to set up utilities and other services. Further investigation by OAG revealed that Landsman failed to follow through on the agreement, and OAG then conducted an independent survey of all Los Flamboyanes tenants, which found that many tenants faced relocation and utility costs that were not covered by those initial lump sum payments.

Some tenants ended up paying more than 30 percent of their income for rent and utilities, and several tenants fell behind on rent and faced possible eviction. Tenants revealed to OAG that poor conditions in Los Flamboyanes townhomes, including issues with pests like cockroaches, mice, and in some cases, bedbug infestations, forced them to choose between saving their lump sum payment to cover future rent and utility costs or to spend it on new, pest-free furniture and appliances.

Attorney General James has now secured a second settlement with Landsman to ensure that all Los Flamboyanes tenants who are entitled to additional compensation will receive payments from Landsman, and all tenants are informed of their right to return to their homes once construction is completed. The settlement protects tenants from eviction and utility shut-offs while in their relocation homes. Tenants are also entitled to an additional $300 to cover one-time application fees and utility-reconnection charges related to their move. The OAG will oversee all communication between Landsman and Los Flamboyanes tenants to ensure all tenants are accounted for and will ensure Landsman communicates construction updates and timelines to tenants as required by law.

This is the latest action taken by Attorney General James to protect vulnerable tenants throughout New York. In February 2026, Attorney General James sued the owners and managers of an apartment complex in Orange County, for leaving residents to endure horrific conditions. In October 2025, Attorney General James stopped a Montgomery County property owner his companies from illegally discriminating against low-income New Yorkers. In April 2025, Attorney General James secured a settlement with property owners in the Capital Region for illegally denying housing to low-income renters who were using housing assistance. In August 2024, Attorney General James made Shamco Management Corp. pay $400,000 to low-income tenants in New York City for illegally denying housing opportunities. In February 2024, Attorney General James announced an agreement with real estate broker Pasquale Marciano and his companies to stop illegal policies that denied housing opportunities to low-income renters.

This matter is part of the OAG's Rochester Community Partnership initiative and is being handled by Jane Landry-Reyes, Assistant Attorney General in the Housing Protection Unit under the supervision of Housing Protection Unit Chief Brent Meltzer. The Rochester Community Partnership is led by Francisca Montana, Senior Program Manager for Community Engagement. The Housing Protection Unit and the Rochester Community Partnership initiative are part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux. The matter is also being handled by Assistant Attorney General Amaris Elliott-Engel of the Rochester Regional Office, under the supervision of Assistant Attorney General-in-Charge Ted O'Brien. The Rochester Regional Office is part of the Regional Offices Division, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs Jill Faber. Both the Division for Social Justice and the Regional Offices Division are overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.