Is there any strategy I can put in place to help my brother recover some of this $1700 a month he is paying for this vacant apartment?

Looks like no mesh was put in when the ceiling was installed 50-60 years ago.

If every house has granite counters, then don't put in laminate.

I just had an HVAC put in a couple of months ago and used a recommendation from my property manager.

One I met recently converted a garage into a bonus room yet didn't put in a closet and skimped on paint on the whole house.

I removed ‘upstate’ and put in Ithaca, Watkins Glen and Corning. 

Also put in perspective that the majority of Manhattan residents exiting have 1-3 kids so the suburbs are real appealing.

Thank you for your in put in advance.

For example, will the funds they put in be a loan or cash.

Put in as tall of a chain link fence as your locality allows.If your local government allows it, run a strip of barbed wire at the top.Set the posts in concrete.Use a metal pipe at the bottom and the top of the fence.Use "Bad Neighborhood prickly top type and let it stick up over the fence.If they dig a hole under it, fill it with fresh cow manure fertilizer.Post no trespassing signs wired to the fence.If they cut it, fix it.Good Luck!