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Woah. Now, I need to look around to see if I have any overloaded power strips in my apt. And I wasn't aware of the lack of affordable housing in Jackson Heights or that it's an expensive place to live... I feel for their predicament.
On a sunny day in early April, minutes before flames ignited across a 133-unit apartment building on 89th street in Jackson Heights, Andrew Sokolof Diaz returned home from a doctor’s appointment for his two-month-old son.
“So I remember opening the windows and feeling a little nostalgic, like aw, this is our little home. I actually remember that feeling,” said Sokolof Diaz, 33, a leader of the building’s tenant association. “And that’s it. The worst possible thing that could have happened, happened.”
Around 1 p.m., the electrical fire, which fire marshals said was sparked by an overloaded power strip, began burning on the top floor of one wing of the six-story, two-address building and spread rapidly, fanned by an apartment door left ajar.
It took 12 hours for hundreds of firefighters to quell the eight-alarm blaze, which injured 21 people. Ultimately, the sprawling building’s more than 140 households — about 500 New Yorkers — were displaced from their homes.
A season later, more than 100 residents of the rent-stabilized, block-long apartment building are without a permanent home. By the tenant association’s count, some 60 families remain in city-sponsored hotel rooms across Queens and Brooklyn, following Red Cross emergency relocation.
They were told they could stay for a month — two months ago.
A surge of fundraising and charitable aid in the fire’s immediate aftermath has given way to harsh reality: Finding new affordable housing in or near the popular neighborhood of Jackson Heights is nearly impossible.
A review last year by THE CITY found just 20 affordable apartments built in the local community district under Mayor Bill de Blasio’s housing program, with another 83 in neighboring Corona.
I thought these apartments were co ops? Hope they find a solution for the affected tenants.
Would think this would/could be rebuilt already,with the huge talent pool in the area...
Seems there were alot of fires during the pandemic. More people at home putting pressure on the outlets. I had 2 family's seeking temporary apartment due to their apartments being destroyed by fire.
I thought these apartments were co ops? Hope they find a solution for the affected tenants.
Would think this would/could be rebuilt already,with the huge talent pool in the area...
Building was a like so many others scattered all over NYC; busted old tenement filled with largely regulated tenants paying well below market rents. Households make up of two, three or even four generations (twelve or more people) living in an apartment that rented for $1k, per month.
Plight of remaining unhoused tenants is same as many other rent regulated, they cannot afford anywhere near market rent, and there are otherwise few units available (regulated or not) that have such low rents.
Twelve people were not living in a studio or one bedroom apartment, that would be illegal. So we're likely talking about a spacious pre-war two or even three bedroom. Maybe a dining room or area that could be converted into a bedroom as well. All for < $1k per month *and* rent regulated. Good luck finding another such unit even in Jackson Heights today.
As for length of time being taken for rebuilding, did people read the linked article? After fire city has to release building after FDNY (and maybe also insurance) do their investigations. Then comes the fun parts, more inspections, lining up contractors, asbestos abatement (which is heavily regulated by federal and local laws), and more. Oh and all this occurring during covid emergency.
Plus is it worth it spending all this money to renovate a a fire damaged building to bring back extremely under market tenants?
With how unfriendly the new tenant laws are to landlord it it is better to demolish the building. Take the insurance payout and sell the land that will be developed into market rate apartment.
Whatever the insurance is going to pay out is not enough
Hernandez and his parents have been working with HPD to find affordable housing in Queens — and finding few options with their monthly income of $1,000. They’ve applied for a one- bedroom apartment at the Archer Green apartments in downtown Jamaica and await an answer.
Working in construction and cleaning houses and monthly income is only $1000?
Up to 10 people living in a one bedroom apartment.
They must have mansions back home because they were stashing all their money. I am not mad at it.
Plus is it worth it spending all this money to renovate a a fire damaged building to bring back extremely under market tenants?
With how unfriendly the new tenant laws are to landlord it it is better to demolish the building. Take the insurance payout and sell the land that will be developed into market rate apartment.
Whatever the insurance is going to pay out is not enough
In NYC/NYS (surprise, surprise) being "worth it" doesn't factor into things when it comes to rent regulated tenants.
"“In cases where the building is destroyed, it does raise an issue as to whether the tenants have the right to return” to a rent-stabilized apartment, said Ronald S. Languedoc, a Manhattan lawyer who represents tenants. Rent-stabilization law does not cover this exact scenario, and the courts have not addressed the matter in much detail. A judge could rule that tenancy rights terminated when the building was destroyed, and the landlord is not obligated to rebuild and provide rent-stabilized tenants with apartments. But if the landlord’s actions played any role in the disaster, a tenant’s case would be stronger."
In NYC/NYS (surprise, surprise) being "worth it" doesn't factor into things when it comes to rent regulated tenants.
"“In cases where the building is destroyed, it does raise an issue as to whether the tenants have the right to return” to a rent-stabilized apartment, said Ronald S. Languedoc, a Manhattan lawyer who represents tenants. Rent-stabilization law does not cover this exact scenario, and the courts have not addressed the matter in much detail. A judge could rule that tenancy rights terminated when the building was destroyed, and the landlord is not obligated to rebuild and provide rent-stabilized tenants with apartments. But if the landlord’s actions played any role in the disaster, a tenant’s case would be stronger."
Well the fire seems to have been cause because of the use of an extension chord.
Also if a rent stabilized building is gut renovated the landlord can apply to destabilize the building due to significant capital improvements.
If the landlord is smart they would combine the apartments (this de stabilizes those apartments also) and apply for destabilization due to significant renovation.
10 adults in a one bedroom apartment paying $1000 and i am sure 90% of them are not on the lease. You cant evict, you cant raise the rent. It is not worth the headache and high water bill to bring them back.
All that money they saved from insanely cheap rents they can move to a cheaper location and buy a house.
ANY JOB IN ANY LOCATION will pay at minimum $1000 a month. So they cant say they need to be in New York due to job availability because they were either working sporadically or not reporting income to maintain other benefits.
In NYC/NYS (surprise, surprise) being "worth it" doesn't factor into things when it comes to rent regulated tenants.
"“In cases where the building is destroyed, it does raise an issue as to whether the tenants have the right to return” to a rent-stabilized apartment, said Ronald S. Languedoc, a Manhattan lawyer who represents tenants. Rent-stabilization law does not cover this exact scenario, and the courts have not addressed the matter in much detail. A judge could rule that tenancy rights terminated when the building was destroyed, and the landlord is not obligated to rebuild and provide rent-stabilized tenants with apartments. But if the landlord’s actions played any role in the disaster, a tenant’s case would be stronger."
Those LIC tenants and their attorneys are unrealistic. Do they think insurance companies show up with a check the next week? Do they know the process to get approval to start construction. What it involves to complete construction and get sign off for the permits?
Are they aware that there was a huge backlog on construction materials and the prices increased 10 folds during the pandemic
Do they expect they landlord to take out extra loans so they can quickly return to their cheap apartments?
They would be the first ones to bellyache about shoddy work.
We were doing renovations during COVID and the building inspector constantly stopped by. In addition to the routine inspection and sign off on the work being done they were making sure we were in COVID compliance.
One wrong move and your entire renovation would have been shut down and huge fines.
I think that $1000 is a typo. It also says that family (one 28 year old and his parents) are applying for a unit at Archer Green. The very cheapest apartment that allows 3 people is $667 a month and requires an annual income of $25K to $42K.
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