Jailed landlord’s tenants still have no cooking gas

Arthur Gibbons did 60 days in the slammer, but residents of 156 East 178th St. haven't seen their prospects improve

156 East 178th Street in the Bronx
156 East 178th Street in the Bronx

In 2016, Bronx landlord Arthur Gibbons went to jail for failing to address hundreds of city violations at 156 East 178th Street. The city placed the property under its Alternative Enforcement Program, but conditions haven’t improved, tenants say.

In fact, they haven’t even had cooking gas for 11 months, Crain’s reported. The tenants plan to hold a rally tomorrow to apply pressure to the city’s Housing Preservation and Development agency to make the necessary repairs as soon as possible.

Building records show that Gibbons hired a plumber to make the necessary repairs, but permits were repeatedly denied by the Department of Buildings. HPD says it has the situation under control.

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“[The department] has been heavily involved here and has selected a licensed plumber to do the extensive repair work needed in order to have gas service restored for residents, for which the owner will be billed,” a spokesman told Crain’s.

That doesn’t appear to solve the issue of the necessary permit, however, which has still not been awarded. [Crain’s]Will Parker