Hell’s Kitchen tenant sued for taking over shared backyard — charging guests for pumpkin painting events and dinner parties
A Hell's Kitchen tenant, Bryson Kernan Clark, is being sued by his landlord for allegedly using a shared backyard without permission to host paid events open to non-residents. The landlord claims Clark charged guests for activities like pumpkin painting and dinner parties, violating his lease and disturbing neighbors with noise. The property owner is seeking an injunction, lease enforcement, and at least $25,000 in damages.
- ▪Bryson Kernan Clark is accused of using a communal outdoor space at 419 W. 56th St. for events open to the public without the landlord’s consent.
- ▪Clark allegedly charged attendees $25 to $50 monthly for access to events through his 'Home in Hell’s Kitchen' initiative.
- ▪The landlord, Tockwotten Associates, Inc., filed a lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction and at least $25,000 in damages.
- ▪Neighbors filed noise complaints and expressed frustration over late-night gatherings and unauthorized use of the shared yard.
- ▪Clark’s father, Bradley L. Clark, is also named in the suit as the lease guarantor.
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Real Estate exclusive Hell’s Kitchen tenant sued for taking over shared backyard — charging guests for pumpkin painting events and dinner parties By Mary K. Jacob Published May 1, 2026, 1:34 p.m. ET Just because it’s a shared amenity doesn’t mean a resident can share it with the outside world. Bryson Kernan Clark, a Fordham University grad, is being sued by his Hell’s Kitchen landlord for taking his community-building initiative a step too far. For years, Clark has allegedly used his building’s shared outdoor space, an al-fresco hangout that he doesn’t own, as a gathering place for pumpkin painting, plant exchanges, dinner parties and even a kids’ summer camp — all attended by area locals who don’t reside in the 13-unit building itself. Clark moved into unit 1D at 419 W.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at New York Post.
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