NEW YORK — A year after a devastating fire in New York City forced hundreds of people out of their apartments, some tenants say their landlords have yet to help them and no repairs have been made to the building.
The fire ripped through the partially rent-stabilized building in Sunnyside, Queens on December 20, 2023.
The fire department said it was a contractor illegal use of a blowtorch accidentally started the fire, forcing hundreds of people into the cold.
“Immense emotional, financial and physical burden”
Dozens of tenants say A and E Real Estate, their landlord, has done nothing to repair or provide financial assistance to the building at 43-09 47th Avenue.
Some of the frustrated tenants say they are still suffering from it a year later.
“We have taken on an enormous emotional, financial and physical burden, facing trials that no one could have anticipated,” said Lauren Koenig. “I moved into an apartment three weeks ago after a year of couch surfing.”
“Understand that you have people whose lives have been completely displaced and we are doing the best we can,” Christa Kimlicko Jones said.
Some tenants have moved
A&E Real Estate said 14 tenants who had moved to other A&E buildings were given two six-month extensions, including the last until July 2025, but that deal was too stressful for others to take.
“Can you imagine not knowing if you have a place to live every six months? I’m so grateful I didn’t take that. It’s a raw deal,” Koenig said. ‘It was a difficult deal. But when you have kids and a family and you’re struggling, and you have nowhere to go.”
A spokesperson for A&E Real Estate said in part: “Since the insurance company took full control of the rebuilding process, things have been slow. We are applying every pressure possible to get this process started and have filed a petition with the New York Supreme The court must step in and resolve these issues.”
A NYC council member says it’s a trick
New York City Councilwoman Julie Won says this is a trick for companies to make more money.
“You’re delaying rebuilding because you want to push out the rent-stabilized tenants. That way you can bring it to market price. So instead of four, $600, you can now pay $2,000 to $3,000 a month,” Won said. .
For some renters, focusing on the good is the only thing that will get them through this ordeal in the meantime.
“I just feel overwhelming gratitude for this community, for our friends and family,” Kimlicko Jones said.
Naveen Dhaliwal
