INWOOD — A car wash near the Inwood Library development site that shuttered abruptly last month after its owner was ordered to pay a record-breaking $1.65 million settlement to staff has been put up for sale — and the city has not ruled out whether it might consider buying it, DNAinfo New York has learned.
Soft Touch Car Wash at 4778 Broadway was placed up for sale on April 19 for $13 million, according to Richard Gambino, who represents the court-appointed trustee placed in charge of the property.
Owners Jose and Andres Vasquez lost control of the property after being ordered to pay the “highest ever achieved recovery per worker in the car-washing industry” following a lawsuit by staff that they were deprived of overtime and appropriate wages, according to Steven Arenson, of the employment litigation firm Arenson Dittmar & Karban, who represented the car-wash workers.
Residents have been keeping a close eye on the car wash — and whether it will be included in a planned redevelopment for the controversial Inwood Library site, which is a partnership between the city's Housing Preservation Development, the New York Public Library, the Robin Hood Foundation and a yet-to-be-determined developer.
During two presentations by the HPD earlier this month, residents asked if officials would consider the newly vacant car wash location as a replacement for the affordable housing. Officials did not answer at the meeting.
HPD spokesman, Jason Rubin, said in an email to DNAinfo New York this week that "This is very much a work in progress and HPD is committed to continuing to engage with the community as we move forward. We are currently exploring all options for this development."
"As you know, we are still working toward the creation of a request for proposals that outlines requirements for designs that meet the community's needs," he added. "Through Community Board workshops and a larger community meeting, HPD will continue to solicit community feedback as we work together to determine the best outcome for all Inwood residents.”
“Mr. Vasquez, while he’s the owner, he’s no longer in control of the car washes… meaning he no longer runs them and it’s the trustees of the car-washes that have decided to put this up for sale,” Arenson said. “And the trustees of these car washes have paid these workers.”
Arenson said regardless of what happens to the property, the car wash workers have already been paid in full, “so that prior to the sale or the talk of the sale, this case was settled and the workers received 1.65 million.”
“It was life-changing money for these workers,” Arenson added.