People’s Forum Purchases Manhattan Building for $5.15 Million, Launches $5 Million Renovation Campaign

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.

David Chung serves as organizing director of the People’s Forum. He was born in South Korea and grew up in New York City. Manolo De Los Santos is the executive director of the People’s Forum; he was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in The Bronx.

He said the more than 200 organizations that make up the network are "united in the struggle" for racial, gender, climate and economic justice. The People’s Forum serves as a hub for more than 200 organizations. It was founded in 2017 and initially relied on support from a generous donor to establish its operations that year, according to its website.

U.S. since its founding in 2017. The organization has published over 25 revolutionary texts, organized over 6,000 events and trained over 40,000 people through political education programs, its website states.

It positions the new building as a central node for activist organizing and a permanent home for its efforts. Neville Roy Singham has funneled $285 million into the broad network of nonprofits since 2017, Fox News reported. 5 million in funding was directed to the People’s Forum from the Singham network.

Congress is investigating what lawmakers have described as a foreign-aligned influence network tied to Singham. Justice, State and Treasury Department officials are investigating financial activity tied to the Singham network, Fox News reported. The fundraising and building purchase come as scrutiny of China’s influence has intensified.

The People’s Forum, De Los Santos and Chung did not respond to requests for comment.