Friends of 695 Saint Nicholas Avenue - Tenants' Association

02/21/2024

04/19/2023

Important Town Hall for this Thursday!

See event details here: https://facebook.com/events/s/community-townhall-to-discuss-/3271688439808747/

04/05/2023

We rarely think about the stories behind rental listings, but the reality is people often move due to slumlord behaviors. That is the story of Apt 4, currently on the market.

The previous tenants, like all of us, faced challenges for years to get repairs. When the fire happened they sustained considerable water damage and collapsed ceilings and received vacate orders. While displaced, they advocated for repairs and updates for all. In response, management engaged in escalating tenant harassment strategies to get them to leave. The breaking point was an illegal “termination of lease” sent to their vacated rent-stabilized apartment ending their lease 10 days from the date of the letter. The landlord then served them with a holdover suit, another scare tactic. Intervention by a state attorney convinced the them to drop the suit, but the damage had been done. Their physical and mental health was impacted by the landlord’s behavior. They stated, “it became painfully obvious that we were trapped in an abusive relationship with [the building manager] and that it would never wash off. Who wants a landlord who illegally evicts fire victims for their own financial gain?” After months of hell, they moved. Meanwhile, Unit 4 sat empty. With the bathroom collapsed, pests and mold spread throughout the unit.

Two weeks after surrendering the unit, it showed up on Street Easy. Upon inspection during a booked viewing, it was clear that needed repairs were incomplete - notably mold remediation. Despite visible evidence, the realtor claimed there was never water damage. When questioned about vacate orders on the door, the realtor denied any knowledge of a fire.

As a tenant association, it’s our duty to be transparent about conditions, including active rentals. It is our assessment that Unit 4 was surrendered under duress, that repairs were not completed to professional standards, and that the presence of mold in the apartment poses a health hazard. These concerns must be addressed before a new tenant moves in.



https://streeteasy.com/rental/4074456?utm_campaign=rental_listing&utm_medium=app_share&utm_source=ios&utm_term=dd93496157994c

695 ST NICHOLAS AVENUE #4 is a rental unit in Hamilton Heights, Manhattan priced at $2,495.

04/04/2023

Absolutely critical reading! This experience is ours. It’s hard enough being a fire victim, but having sudden and violent vacate orders, plus opportunistic landlords harassing tenants in the hopes that they leave so they can increase their bottom line - it’s trauma through and through. Fire victims deserve the red carpet, not the red tape.

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/city-news/2023/03/23/the-fire-loophole-when-tenants-are-displaced-by-fires-their-landlords-can-profit/

We are so grateful to be able to share our story navigating this broken system.Thank you Amira and for elevating our voices.

03/08/2023

“I decided to take the stairs today [instead of the chronically slow and broken elevator] cause I was running to catch the train, and when I stepped, I heard a sounds and I got scared thinking that I was falling through the floor.”

These dangerous conditions have to stop. The options should be “possible death by elevator” or “possible death by stairs.” We, the tenants at 695 Saint Nicholas Ave, deserve to be able to get to and from our apartments safely, and without fear.

01/25/2023

“The housing industry, […] has mounted a preemptive counter-push, arguing that state and local regulations on leasing are sufficient”

Spoiler Alert: THEY’RE NOT SUFFICIENT

Democrats want the administration to enact new restrictions on rent hikes and punish landlords they accuse of price-gouging.

01/20/2023

Good people, good representation, good spirits! Talking strategy at tonight!

01/19/2023

We haven’t seen this door, or this upward view in YEARS… and it’s a nice reminder that when you come together, the sky’s the limit.

We have a big road ahead of us this year as we continue to fight for a wide variety of repairs throughout our home, from fire-related repairs for displaced tenants, to building-wide priorities like a permanent solution to our elevator outages. There’s a lot of work to be done and we’re just beginning 💪🏾💪🏽💪🏿💪🏼

01/19/2023

Celebrating the last few beams coming down on one of our biggest tenant association priorities: the scaffolding!

In December 2017 scaffolding was erected in response to damaged facade that posted a safety hazard to pedestrians. Facade repair work and installation of missing AC brackets were obvious safety issues that needed to be addressed, but unfortunately this work was not done in a timely manner. Over the past several years the decaying scaffolding created a different set of safety issues for our community: physical barriers for foot traffic around the busy ACBD station, after-school congestion and safety issues for young students, and a shield for illegal activities.

While communication from has been minimal on this issue, we never stopped pushing for completion of needed work and the removal of this scaffolding.

Cheers to the little wins, friends and neighbors! It’s good to see our building’s face again!

12/06/2022