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New York

NYCHA housing conditions remain a “tenant’s nightmare”: Stringer

Report found significant increase in sloped, cracked walls and floors at buildings

From left: Shola Olatoye (Credit: Max Dworkin) and Scott Stringer
From left: Shola Olatoye (Credit: Max Dworkin) and Scott Stringer

UPDATED: April 8 1:36 p.m.: City Comptroller Scott Stringer’s office found a significant increase in cracking, sagging and sloping of the walls and floors at New York City Housing Authority’s buildings.

“Housing conditions at NYCHA remain a tenant’s nightmare, with moldy units, holes in floors, and broken walls,” Stringer said in a statement.

From 2008 to 2014, the number of NYCHA buildings that have sloping walls tripled to 1,164 from 365, according to Stringer’s report, which used data from the 2014 Federal Census’ Housing and Vacancy Survey, DNAinfo reported.

Major cracks on buildings’ outside walls increased by 371 percent as well as a 72 percent increase in holes and missing floors, according to the report.

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The report did cite some improvements: wheelchair accessibility has improved, and there was a 72 percent decrease in loose or hanging roofing as well as a 44 percent drop in broke or loose window frames, according to DNAinfo.

“The de Blasio administration has committed nearly half-a-billion dollars for roof replacements, brickwork, and other quality-of-life improvements following decades of government disinvestment that have left NYCHA confronting $17 billion in capital needs,” a NYCHA spokesperson told DNAinfo.

NYCHA CEO Shola Olatoye told the City Council last month that the agency has a $60 million deficit.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara is investing elevated lead levels in housing shelters and the agency’s complexes, and last month a federal judge ordered the city to release the documents. At a City Council hearing in March, Olatoye said the agency tested the water at 175 vacant apartment units for lead and found 13 had elevated levels. [DNAinfo] — Dusica Sue Malesevic

This post was updated with a statement from NYCHA.

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NYCHAScott StringerShola Olatoye