Ayisha Doyle and her mother are on the brink of eviction from their historic Bedford-Stuyvesant home after a New York City court approved a partition sale, putting their ownership in jeopardy.
The turmoil began in 2017 when Doyle’s estranged uncle allegedly sold a 75% share of the family property to Theodore Zucker, a Long Island real estate investor.
This unexpected move blindsided Doyle and her mother, who had recently paid off the mortgage on the home that has been in their family for over five decades.
Local reports on explain Doyle first learned of the transaction through an unexpected call from a man claiming to have purchased the stake via a company named Arlo 67 LLC, linked to Zucker.
This revelation spurred the Doyles to take immediate legal action to protect their property. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Doyle’s grandmother’s will was never probated following her death in 2007. Records show Zucker paid $300,000 for the share, with a deed allegedly signed and notarized in Australia.
Doyle and her attorney have contested Zucker’s purchase, questioning his ability to locate Giles and provide proof of payment. Zucker’s initial three attempts to force a partition sale were rejected by judges, who determined that Arlo 67 LLC had no legitimate claim, as Giles never legally acquired any share to transfer.
However, a fourth attempt succeeded on a technicality, leading to the partition sale of the Bed-Stuy home. The property was auctioned on June 6 for $1.7 million, with Zucker’s LLC as the buyer, although the sale has 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.
In response to such cases, the New York State Attorney General’s office has organized community sessions on preventing foreclosure and deed theft.
Additionally, $150 million has been allocated to fund legal services to assist homeowners, recognizing the urgent need to protect vulnerable property owners from partition sales and similar threats.
Doyle and her mother now face the heartbreaking possibility of losing their historic home.
