Highly Hazardous Conditions

I have lived in the building for 6 years. Recently, the conditions have deteriorated to the point of disbelief. To begin with, there were only two elevators to service 21 floors and 100+ apartments. When the management company finally decided to invest in new ones (as our building is over 50 years old), they hired a two-man team for the job, which is estimated to take at least six months. Now, the... [more]

I have lived in the building for 6 years. Recently, the conditions have deteriorated to the point of disbelief. To begin with, there were only two elevators to service 21 floors and 100+ apartments. When the management company finally decided to invest in new ones (as our building is over 50 years old), they hired a two-man team for the job, which is estimated to take at least six months. Now, the entire building has ONE functioning elevator which breaks almost daily (with or without residents inside). We have elderly folks, babies in strollers, and people who cannot walk stairs. Not only does this make for a very frustrating time trying to get out the door to work/ school, but it is highly unsafe in an emergency situation. Aside from the egregious situation with the elevators, we also suffer from some other minor infractions. There is a broken mirror in the lobby that is covered with bits of paper. Our hallways are dirty and dated. Bathrooms are without ventilation and mold is a common problem. Hot water has taken 15 minutes to turn on in the morning. Laundry facilities are ill-equipped for a building of our size. Rents increase every year, with virtually no negotiation permitted. Naturally, as renters, we have very few rights. Dozens of calls to management and 311 have resulted in absolutely no action. Unfortunately, it seems they are content to wait for an accident or a lawsuit before making any attempt to compensate for the danger and disruption to the daily lives of staff and residents. Needless to say, if you are looking for a place to call home, I would suggest you look elsewhere. [less]