Linden Plaza tenants demand immediate solution to dangerous mold conditions
The five buildings and 32 townhouses that make up the complex have been falling apart for years, with constant leaks causing dangerous amounts of mold.
Sep 28, 2023, 6:59 PM
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More tenants have reached out to share their own horror stories after News 12 exposed the conditions inside an apartment at Linden Plaza in East New York.
"We are slowly dying from mold and mildew," said Carol Pitter, who's lived at Linden Plaza for six years.
The five buildings and 32 townhouses that make up the complex have been falling apart for years, with constant leaks causing dangerous amounts of mold.
"My bathroom is growing mushroom," another longtime tenant told News 12.
On Thursday, close to 30 tenants from different buildings squeezed into Carol Pitter's apartment to share the nightmares they've had to endure in recent years.
"The mold in the bathroom is really bad, and it's dripping. Every time you shower, it drips all over your head and everything. All over our washcloths, our towels, it's really bad," said Ramona Andre, who's lived in the building for 24 years.
Tenants said constant leaks are creating black mold, larges puddles of water, causing ceilings to collapse and even getting through electrical wires.
Many of them told News 12 they've developed health conditions linked to mold, from asthma and lung pains to headaches and rashes.
They've been trying to get RY Management to repair the buildings, but they say all they get is temporary patchwork and unanswered calls.
Over the years, the complex has been part of a number of city programs that tenants say are part of the issue.
"There was a massive amount of money that was given to address these problems, and it just didn't happen," said Mary Desuze from the tenants' association.
The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development, who is overseeing the complex, said it's in the process of finding a new owner and that they will continue to work to address tenants' issues and take corrective actions while this process is taking place. But tenants said they need something to be done now.
"It's like we're fighting to either having a roof over your head or have your health. What do we have to do now? We are dying from this," said a tenant.
Tenants have reached out to the Legal Aid society and are hoping to start legal action as soon as possible. RY Management has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
