Cooking gas finally restored for tenants at the Astoria Houses

Residents of building 1-04 in the Astoria Houses got their cooking gas restored after nearly three months Thursday. Eagle file photo by Brenna Holland

By Rachel Vick

Cooking gas was finally restored for residents of the Astoria Houses Thursday, after a nearly three-month outage left them unable to use their stoves or ovens. 

Nearly 50 units in the NYCHA apartment complex were left without gas beginning September 23, forcing them to rely on hot plates, takeout or support from the local community.

State Sen. Michael Gianaris introduced legislation in October to reduce the rent for public housing tenants who lose their utilities, including gas. 

“While I am pleased these residents now have service restored, this whole episode represents an unacceptable failure from NYCHA. Rent-paying tenants deserve better,” Gianaris said.

NYCHA said workers cut the main gas valve due to a leak. The repair process took weeks to complete because it required multiple steps further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, a NYCHA spokesperson told the Eagle in October. 

The spokesperson said Gianaris' bill would not expedite repairs.

“Reducing or stopping rent payments would not speed up the process and would adversely affect NYCHA's ability to make repairs, as it would decrease NYCHA's day-to-day operating budget,” the spokesperson said.