Harlem building one of city’s worst, says pol
Falling ceilings. Cracked walls. And when it rains outside, it rains just as much inside.
Those are just some of the problems listed by residents inside Uptown Manhattan’s worst building.
The low-income co-op and rental at 307 W. 153rd St. in Harlem, topped the Manhattan list of buildings that made Public Advocate Bill de Blasio‘s third annual list of nightmare landlords.
City records show the Harlem building has 398 violations. The worst building in the city honor goes to 245 Sullivan Place in Brooklyn, which racked up 654 violations.
“The building is falling a part,” said one resident, who declined to give his name.
Another resident, who was raised in the building near Bradhurst Ave., agreed the building hasn’t been kept up.
“They don’t do nothing about the problems. They tell you it’s your fault,” the 25-year-old resident said, listing falling ceilings, constant leaks and roaming rodents as on-going issues with the building.
One woman, who has lived in the building for 40 years said leaks in the building are among the major problems.
“When it rains outside, it rains just as much inside,” she said. “They need to come in and fix it.”
But when they don’t fix it, she gets someone to fix the problems: “I fix my own .”
One woman, who rents a $550 per month studio apartment, said she “wasn’t surprised at all” that the building topped the list in Manhattan.
“They’re slow to do repairs, and they give you a hard time if you complain” she said, noting her bathtub was constantly leaking hot water, causing mildew. “I’m a renter, and they’re responsible.”
Co-op President Fernando Harris, 79, said he was surprised his building – a five-story walk-up with 20 apartments – sat atop the list.
He contended that many of the violations had been fixed, but the list was never updated.
“If we fix a violation, they never take it off. Some of the violations have been cleared,” said Harris, who has lived in the building more than 45 years. “I wouldn’t say it’s that bad. We’ve been trying.”
Harris conceded there are still repairs s that need to be made – but there’s a problem.
“There’s no money,” Harris said. “Maybe we’d do more, but we don’t have the funds…We’re in debt.”
He said part of the financial strain is that there are unoccupied apartments and at least two owners owe about $30,000 each in rent.
“Some people are just not paying,” he said.
Behind the Harlem building on the Manhattan list was at 206 Audubon Ave. near W. 176th St. in Washington Heights which ranked second on the list of Manhattan’s worst buildings. It had 367 violations. And rounding out the top three was a building at 148 W. 142nd St., which had 311 violations.
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