By Mary Alice Miller for NYCNewswire.com
Black mold. Water running in the walls. Mushrooms growing out of stove and refrigerator. Water-logged tiles lifting from kitchen floor. Flooding in living room flowing into common hallway area. Rodents. The Fire Department mandated shut off of electricity in kitchen.
These are some of the conditions 40-year tenant Rosalind Kitchens faces in her 4th floor Linden Plaza apartment. Kitchens retired last year after 27 years as a NYPD dispatcher, and is a Member of DC37, one of the largest unions in New York City.
“I am a very sick woman,” said Kitchens. “I have had two heart attacks, a stroke, blocked arteries in my neck, pulmonary heart disease, acute asthma, COPD, and a recent diagnosis of lupus. I use a cane and walker. Now my primary care doctor is trying to get me a motorized scooter.”
Kitchens’ doctors have written multiple letters stating that Kitchens must be moved from the apartment; it is detrimental to her health to stay there.
“He took a CAT scan of my lungs that show I have mold spores in my lungs,” Kitchens said. “I don’t need to breath in mold in here when I have COPD.”
Since Kitchens cannot use her stove to cook, she orders UberEats every day and buys salads from the local supermarket. Although she is a NYPD retiree, the expenses add up.
Linden Plaza Tenant Association President Pamela Lockley said Kitchens is not the only resident experiencing health issues.
“More than half our residents are complaining about mold in their apartment due to the ongoing leaks in their kitchen and/or bathroom,” said Lockley. “In fact, the laundry room in 760 Eldert Lane has mold from a leak that has been off and on for several years. The laundry room shares the same pipes as Rosalind Kitchens on the apartment L line. For the few residents in 760 Eldert Lane who are fortunate not to have mold in their apartment, those residents are exposed to mold when they use the laundry room.”
Lockley added, “While 760 Eldert Lane has the most complaints, residents of 790 Eldert Lane and 675, 735, and 765 Lincoln Avenue are subjected to leaks and mold in their apartments, as well as in the lobbies, hallways and laundry rooms.”
“Needless to say, the health and safety of our 1000+ families are severely compromised by these horrific living conditions,” Lockley said. “Tenants who never had respiratory issues are complaining about difficulty breathing, allergies, and chronic respiratory infections. A few have confirmed that they have been diagnosed as having mold in their lungs.”
In addition to black mold, Lockley said tenants are exposed to no hot water, elevator breakdowns, no heat/too much heat during heating season, malfunctioning compactors, inadequate cleaning and sanitizing of all common areas, and homeless people sleeping in staircases and hallways.
According to Kitchens, the deterioration in habitability for her apartment began in 2019 when a water leak in the walls led to mushrooms growing out of her stove. Water began to run down the walls. The smell of mold was horrific. That year Kitchens received a new set of kitchen cabinets and a promise of new floors and refrigerator which she says never came.
Another water leak occurred, and new countertops were installed. Meanwhile, mushrooms were growing out of her refrigerator. Kitchens was told she would receive a new stove and refrigerator.
Then the pandemic happened. “After that, I kept calling and calling,” said Kitchens.
“Someone needs to help me get in touch with Mayor Eric Adams,” said Kitchens. “I campaigned for him. I voted for him. I need help. I gave the NYC Police Department 27 years of my life. I should be able to get some help. They are worried about asylum seekers. Worry about the people who were born and raised here. I pay market rent. It’s not fair. Take care of your people here in New York. Deal with your country first.”
In July 2023, a new water leak occurred which lifted every tile from a recent installation. The walls turned brown from the black mold. As a result of the compounding conditions, the refrigerator was placed in Kitchens’ living room.
Kitchens has placed 37 called to 311 that resulted in HPD inspections.
In desperation, Kitchens contacted local media which prompted yet another HPD inspection. HPD ordered at least 2 emergency repairs in Kitchens’ apartment.
In a statement, HPD representative Natasha Kersey, Deputy Press Secretary said “Linden Plaza faces many challenges. The owner is contending with both financial stresses and the physical deterioration of its aging buildings, which is causing issues like extensive plumbing leaks (resulting in mold conditions) and hot water outages. The tenants’ concerns about these problems are certainly valid and the owner and HPD are actively working to address them.”
The Linden Plaza Tenants Association informed us that they have been calling and emailing the top executives at HPD directly for more than 7 months, which has resulted in no action. The Tenants Association leaders have been constantly calling HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrion, first Deputy Commissioner Ahmed Tigani, Assistant Commissioner Julie Walpert and Executive Director Peter Donohue.
Lockley says the families in Linden Plaza, including children, seniors, and disabled, have been subjected to unbearable living conditions that began about 12-13 years ago.
“The only ‘solution’ that has been offered by HPD’s Office of Asset Management is to approve another rent increase,” Lockley said. “However, the Office of asset and Property management, which is Linden Plaza’s financial oversight entity, refuses to explain what happened to the $50-$77 million that was spent for renovations between 2008-2010. The fact that most of our current problems began soon after those renovations is the reason residents are demanding answers before another rent increase is considered.”
In the meantime, the ongoing water leaks have wrecked Kitchens normally immaculate apartment.
“Someone needs to help me get in touch with Mayor Eric Adams,” said Kitchens. “I campaigned for him. I voted for him. I need help. I gave the NYC Police Department 27 years of my life. I should be able to get some help. They are worried about asylum seekers. Worry about the people who were born and raised here. I pay market rent. It’s not fair. Take care of your people here in New York. Deal with your country first.”
Mayor Adams did a walk through at Linden Plaza months ago, but tenants continue to suffer through these horrendous conditions. We will keep the community updated on this issue, as well as the overall negligence at Linden Plaza.
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