Tenants, Council Member Rally Against Unlivable Conditions At West Harlem Apartments

by Shaun Abreu

The Bijan Royal Tenants’ Union rallied with City Council Member Shaun Abreu and the Goddard Riverside Law Project this week to call on the city to oversee repairs to dangerous and unacceptable conditions at their two buildings in West Harlem.

The buildings— 572 West 141st St. and 619 West 140th St.— are owned by Bijan Nassi, currently #44 on the New York City Public Advocate’s Worst Landlord list.  

The two properties have accumulated 935 violations at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development including: unusable showers, toilets, and stoves in many units; water soaking through the brick walls of the buildings, causing water damage and dangerous mold throughout the apartments; an elevator that has been out for over a year at a six-floor building with infirm and elderly tenants on the upper floors; water and heating issues throughout the year at both buildings; dangerous electrical issues at both buildings; and outer walls that have deteriorated to the point of bricks falling off the buildings.  

Many of the tenants have been on rent strike for over a year, hoping that the financial pressure would move Mr. Nassi’s company to provide these basic requirements for livability, to no avail.  

“We have a toilet that doesn’t flush. I’m scared that at any moment the pipes will burst. The tub drains when it wants to,” said tenant Gracie Feliz at the Tuesday press conference.  

Another tenant union member, Carmen Gonzalez, lives on the sixth floor and walks with a cane due to vertigo: “The elevator has been broken for a year. To bring our groceries in, we have to walk them up.” She added that their tub doesn’t drain and there is an active mouse infestation.  

Javier Figueroa of the Goddard Riverside Law Project said, “We’ve been attempting to work with Mr. Nassi on these issues for over two years, with no real response. These tenants have been patient but are no longer willing to sit back and wait.”  

“As a tenant rights attorney—and as someone who grew up poor in Manhattan—I know first-hand that bad landlords will get away with as much as they can for as long as they can. Together with the Bijan Royal Tenants’ Union and the Goddard Riverside Law Project, we will hold a bad landlord to account and address the serious issues faced by tenants in West Harlem,” said Council Member Abreu. “The conditions range from dangerous wiring and prolonged elevator outages to unusable toilets, showers, and stoves. The status quo is unacceptable, and we demand immediate action. Landlord Bijan Nassi, who is notably on the New York City Public Advocate’s Worst Landlord list, has failed to provide safe and habitable living conditions for these residents.”   

“Today, we are calling on the city to step in and take over management to ensure that these critical repairs are community cannot be compromised any longer.”  

The tenants are demanding the appointment of 7A administrators to take over management of the buildings and make long-needed repairs, and as a long-term solution, for a pathway for tenant and/or community ownership of these long-neglected properties.   

The Bijan Royal Tenants Union represents tenants of 572 West 141st St. and 619 West 140th St. and is working to achieve livable homes for the occupants.  

Goddard Riverside strives toward a fair and just society where all people can make choices that lead to better lives for themselves and their families. Our programs serve more than 20,000 people annually, preparing children and youth for success; supporting self-sufficiency; enriching the lives of older adults; promoting behavioral health; fighting homelessness; and strengthening families and communities.  

Photo credit: 1) Tenants, Goddard Riverside advocates, and CM Abreu (in blue jacket). 2-4) Actual Apartments.