politics
People’s Forum Purchases Manhattan Building for $5.15 Million, Launches $5 Million Renovation Campaign
The nonprofit purchased a three-story property at 137 W. 14th Street in December 2024 and is seeking $2 million in individual donations by December 2026. The group, funded in part by Neville Roy Singham, says the building is currently a shell requiring millions in repairs. Congress and federal agencies are investigating Singham’s network over alleged foreign-aligned influence operations.
May 13, 7:29 AM·2m read1 source
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The People’s Forum bought a three-story building at 137 W. 15 million in December 2024, according to property records obtained by Fox News Digital. 3 million in 2022.
The narrow, mixed-use property sits on a roughly 2,580-square-foot lot with a footprint of approximately 25 feet wide by 96 feet deep. When Fox News Digital visited the location on a recent Tuesday the storefront, previously occupied by a curtains and shades business, appeared vacant.
Its facade was painted black with signage removed, front windows covered by a dark tarp and entrance doors wrapped in brown paper.
A metal fire escape runs along the tan-colored exterior. The building right now is just a shell and would require millions in renovations to become operational, The People’s Forum stated on its website. City records show active violations tied to elevators and the boiler system with about $20,000 in civil penalties currently outstanding.
"The condition of disrepair in this building will take millions of dollars to renovate," the group said in a Friday post. The People’s Forum launched a broader $5 million campaign in September. It is urgently seeking to raise $2 million from individual donors by a December 2026 deadline, the organization said in a statement on X.
It has so far raised around $570,000 for the renovations. "We need your help to make this urgent project come to reality," the group wrote on Friday while sharing images of the building’s interior showing exposed wires and structural damage. While the property is owned by The People’s Forum, city filings show David Chung signed a property ownership certification tied to the building in October 2025.
