Honors for a developer spur protests

The nonprofit B’nai B’rith Housing New England is planning to honor William Kargman, First Realty president, at a ceremony Monday.

First Realty, which has been repeatedly cited as a premier developer of affordable housing, was among dozens of private developers that participated in a 40-year federal program offering low interest rates in exchange for providing Section 8 and low- and moderate-income housing.

But those deals are expiring, and First Realty, which owns five Boston properties, has come under fire in Roslindale and the Fenway for moving to end rent subsidies. At Burbank Apartments in the Fenway, tenants and advocates have filed suit alleging that the decision to end subsidies discriminates against low-income tenants.

Some now say B’nai B’rith should rescind the award or press him to do more to help tenants at the Boston properties.

The Kargmans have contended that they are keeping the Burbank units affordable by offering tenants enhanced vouchers to continue living there at reduced rates. But tenants argue that once they move out of Burbank, the affordability of their apartments will be lost for good.

“He doesn’t deserve the award,’’ said Burbank tenant Conrad Ciszek. “He’s phasing out affordable housing, not just here but at other properties.’’

B’nai B’rith Housing, which works with cities and towns for affordable housing and is affiliated with the antidiscrimination humanitarian group B’nai B’rith International, defended the award, hailing the Kargman family’s company as a pioneer in affordable housing for more than 40 years and praising its patriarch, Max Kargman, who grew up poor in the Jewish tenements of Chicago.

“We have been wanting to honor the Kargmans since before Max Kargman died in 2005, and we decided to do it months ago,’’ said Susan Gittelman, executive director of B’nai B’rith Housing New England, which works with cities and towns for affordable housing.

Of the 1,081 units of affordable housing Boston has lost in the past five years, 1,069 belong to the Kargmans, said Sheila Dillon, housing adviser to Mayor Thomas M. Menino. The Kargmans said the figure is 518.

Dillon, who has tried unsuccessfully to sway the Kargmans on ending rent subsidies at Burbank, struck a neutral tone over the B’nai B’rith award and pointed to the group’s record in affordable housing.

“B’nai B’rith is very good organization that does very good work,’’ said Dillon. “They are at liberty to award who they see fit. We remain disappointed that the Kargmans aren’t working with the city and with tenants to keep their apartments affordable.’’

Groups including the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, High Point Families United, and the Massachusetts Alliance of HUD Tenants have sent letters to B’nai B’rith requesting it rescind the award.

“I’m really disappointed with the B’nai B’rith organization that they would give him this award,’’ said Ronda Jackson, a member of the High Point tenants group asking that Kargman restore Stony Brook Commons in Roslindale to affordability. “We have contacted the board president and sent letters explaining how we feel.’’

William Kargman said he is proud of his company’s legacy in developing thousands of affordable housing units throughout New England and ensuring that tenants receiving subsidies are not displaced as the expiring use mortgages end.

He painted his opponents as small group of subsidized housing tenant advocates “who would prefer that Burbank Apartments remain Section 8 property forever.’’

The Kargmans have received a number of awards for affordable housing. The state of Rhode Island named First Realty Management among its housing heroes and gave it its private sector award. Governor Lincoln Chaffee said First Realty “played a critical role in providing housing opportunities for Rhode Islanders.’’ In March, the company was awarded for “exemplary developments for elderly residents’’ in Smithfield, R.I., from the National Affordable Housing Management Association, a leading advocate of affordable housing.

Two years ago, the same organization picked William Kargman for its industry statesman award, the highest given to a person who has dedicated his life to affordable housing.

Meghan Irons can be reached at mirons@globe.com.