In Gramercy Park, residents are reportedly suffering due to the erratic and disruptive behavior of a tenant named William Zimmerman. For more than a decade, Zimmerman, 34, has exhibited increasingly alarming conduct, including blasting pornography, making antisemitic rants, and expressing apocalyptic fears. His landlord, Apartment Management Incorporated, has filed a lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court to evict him, citing a history of disturbances that have made life intolerable for his neighbors.
The complaints against Zimmerman are numerous and troubling. Tenants allege that he has spit and urinated in hallways, threatened a dog belonging to another resident, and engaged in package theft. These accusations are compounded by claims he has used racial slurs and made threats of “mass harm” against fellow tenants. Over 13 years, his behavior has reportedly caused $75,000 worth of damage to the property, including a water leak from his second-floor apartment that has impacted those living below.
Adding to the distress, Zimmerman has been known to play disturbing audio recordings that include sounds of violence, which he has paired with threatening statements about impending doom. His behavior has driven several residents to request lease terminations, indicating just how disruptive his presence has become. A former tenant who moved out in 2021 described life in the building as miserable, noting the frustrations and lengths they felt forced to endure due to Zimmerman’s actions.
Law enforcement involvement has also been significant, with the NYPD responding to numerous calls about Zimmerman. Reports indicate that in the last three years alone, the authorities received 46 calls related to various issues in the building, although none have led to criminal charges against him. This pattern is compounded by the fact that Zimmerman has never filed taxes, raising questions about his financial stability and capacity.
The landlord’s attempts to remove Zimmerman from the property date back to 2012. It is notable that Zimmerman’s father, Frank, originally leased the apartment in 1968, which adds complexity to potential eviction proceedings. Although William has attempted to assert “succession rights” to the apartment, claiming he has struggled with depression and was treated at Bellevue Hospital in 2011, the landlord has previously settled with him on terms that he subsequently failed to uphold.
The current lawsuit seeks not only monetary damages but also an injunction to prevent Zimmerman from remaining in the apartment. With both William and Frank unavailable for comment, it remains to be seen how the court will respond to the ongoing struggle between tenants seeking peace and a landlord desperate to regain control over a disruptive living environment.
