Far Rockaway tenants sue landlord over ‘deplorable’ living conditions
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Tenants of 14-15 Mott Ave. rallied outside of Queens Civil Court after filing a lawsuit alleging that the building’s landlords are neglectful. Photos courtesy of Queens Legal Services.
By Jonathan Sperling
UPDATE (11/20/19, 4:50 p.m.): This story has been updated with responses from Neighborhood Restore HDFC and Concord Management of NY LLC
Janith King’s 80-year-old mother has not been able to visit her for the last three years, despite the fact that the two of them live in the same apartment building in Far Rockaway.
That’s because the building she lives in at 14-15 Mott Ave. hasn’t had a functioning elevator for three years, King said. That’s not to mention the alleged inadequate heat, year-long leaks and extensive vermin infestation that make up just some of the 573 open violations attributed to the building on the Department of Housing Preservation and Development website.
That’s why King and a group of her fellow tenants are suing the building’s landlords in Queen Housing Court.
“These conditions are deplorable,” said King, who has lived in the building for 29 years.
She said she also worries about keeping warm this winter.
“Last year it was freezing because the radiator in my bedroom is broken and my windows are cracked and don’t stay closed all the way,” she added. “We were promised these repairs would be made ASAP but a year later it’s the same thing. We’re done waiting. They need to make these repairs now.”
The lawsuit, filed by Queens Legal Services’ Tenant Rights Coalition, names Neighborhood Restore HDFC and Concord Management of NY LLC as the building’s landlords. Neither company has completed the necessary repairs, despite multiple meetings and letters from the tenant association, the complaint alleges.
Neighborhood Restore told the Eagle that the numerous violations at 14-15 Mott Ave. existed well before the company took over the building.
“Neighborhood Restore is a mission-driven nonprofit that takes title to buildings under physical and financial distress and facilitates new ownership that will allow it to be viable in the long term,” Neighborhood Restore Executive Director Salvatore D’Avola said. “As part of this process, 14-15 Mott Avenue came into our ownership with hundreds of existing violations from several years of mismanagement by the prior owners.”
“We have assessed the conditions of the building and are creating a rehabilitation plan in conjunction with the City of New York and future owners,” D’Avola added.
On Monday, the building’s tenants attended the first court hearing in the case to ask that the landlords be forced to make the repairs.
“These tenants pay their rent just like everyone else. There’s no reason why their health and safety is put at risk,” said Alex Jacobs, a staff attorney with Queens Legal Services. “They deserve better than this and we will not stop fighting until they get justice.”
Tenants say the poor conditions are compounded by the number of elderly residents living within the building. Steven Richards, president of the building’s tenant’s association, said that he once found one elderly tenant stuck between floors, breathing heavily and unable to climb any further, due to the building’s only elevator not working.
Minor issues also go unsolved, according to Richards — the lock on the front building door has been broken for the last 20 years, he said.
“The landlords say they’re going to make repairs but then they don’t. People are miserable,” said Richards, who has lived in the building for 20 years. “It’s time for management to step up once and for all and make these repairs.”
A spokesperson for Concord told the Eagle that the lock has been fixed and an intercom system has been installed.
“Concord Management is working with Neighborhood Restore to address the immediate needs and life safety issues within the building to remain safe and affordable for its residents, while establishing a long term plan to ensure the extensive violations acquired under previous ownership are resolved,” Concord Management CEO Michael Rooney, Jr. said. “We have already replaced the front door lock, restored the gas line, repaired major roof leakage, and maintain the boiler function for consistent heat and hot water.”
