Williamsburg tenants face leaks, toxic mushrooms and unsafe conditions; urge city to act
According to city records, the property currently has more than 560 open Housing Preservation and Development violations, including complaints of no heat and no hot water.
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In a South Williamsburg apartment building, residents say they’ve grown used to living in conditions that would horrify most New Yorkers. At 340 South Third Street, tenants describe black mold creeping up their walls, toxic-looking mushrooms sprouting from damp corners, and ceilings that leak whenever it rains.
“Nobody cares about the conditions, that everything has been led to deteriorate. It’s a pit hole,” said resident Lenisse Smith, who’s lived in the building for years.
According to city records, the property currently has more than 560 open Housing Preservation and Development violations, including complaints of no heat and no hot water. For tenants, the building feels like a “house of horrors.”
“Many people in this building, especially the elderly, have to sleep bundled up with coats; we’re freezing,” said Sonia Gonzalez, another resident.
The problems go beyond comfort. One neighbor says water leaks damaged her kitchen’s electrical wiring, leaving her unable to cook for her children.
“Some days, I don’t like knowing I have to come home to that,” said Kelly N. “I want the best for my family, and I can’t provide that because of the conditions we’re living in.”
After city inspectors visited the building again last weekend, tenants say they fear that their long-overdue complaints could lead to eviction instead of repairs. “This is home. This is our security blanket,” Gonzalez said. “And for it to be pulled and yanked hurts.”
A spokesperson for New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development tells News 12 that the agency understands that the property "has a number of ongoing financial and structural challenges" which they have been "actively involved in helping to address."
They also add that they "provided a loan to address longstanding issues, including roof repairs, which have contributed to leaks and mold in the past", and are working with residents to ensure “safe, stable homes."
