Joshua Guttman

In December 2000, the city evicted 60 tenants from an illegally converted loft building at 247 Water Street in Dumbo, and landlord Joshua Guttman ultimately bought out the renters for $30,000 each. When he applied to legalize the building’s apartments, the city denied his request, and a week later, a mysterious four-alarm fire raged through brick factory. Now, after years of sitting vacant and boarded up, the five-story building between Bridge and Gold Streets may become office space.