By Bill Parry
Residents of the Acropolis Gardens co-op in Astoria are at their wits’ end, having lived without cooking gas and hot water for more than six weeks. Public Advocate Letitia James and City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) joined many tenants Monday outside their garden apartments on Ditmars Boulevard and 33rd Street to call on the complex’s management company to make the necessary repairs to restore gas service.
Con Edison shut off the gas in eight of the 16 buildings April 29 following a fire in a first-floor laundry room, because it found “unauthorized, improper hookups,” according to a spokesman. Service has returned in only two of the buildings despite management’s “promises” of full restoration by June 19.
“These egregious conditions are unconscionable,” Constantinides said. “We have been working to resolve the issues but have been stalled because the buildings are private co-ops and the managing agent has failed to make the necessary plumbing repairs in a timely manner. We strongly urge the management company to prioritize these repairs immediately for the benefit of the residents who have been suffering for several weeks.”
Steve Osman, the president of the managing company Metropolitan Pacific Properties, arrived toward the end of the rally to offer a defense and place the onus on Con Ed.
“They did this because they mistook work that was done a year and a half ago on a gas pipe in the basement,” Osman said. “They are claiming it was done without a permit.”
A statement from Con Edison countered the problem involves “internal piping issues” that Metropolitan Pacific Properties needed to address.
“Building management has been made fully aware of what they need to do. Gas was shut off for the safety of the residents. We’ll continue to work with the city to make restoration as proper repairs are made,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, Acropolis residents are caught in the middle without gas to cook meals at home and the high cost of eating at restaurants. “It’s a lot of money we’re spending right now,” Jessica Hernandez said. “We’re trying to spend the least amount on cheap food and we’re getting sick.”
Others complained about the lack of hot water.
“I go to the gym to take a hot shower,” Ike Guzman said. “We’re camping. Who’s going to indemnify us for this fiasco? If it’s a mistake, why do we have to fit the bill for it?”
Constantinides and James were joined by state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria).
“It is unacceptable that hundreds of my neighbors in Astoria are without gas due to improper building management,” he said. “New Yorkers living in these buildings deserve a management company that will make the necessary repairs in a timely manner. This is about people who spend their hard-earned money to live here and about management not holding up its end of the bargain.”
James called the situation “unfathomable” saying, “Every New Yorker deserves to live in a safe home, and this is shocking disregard of tenants by the co-op’s management. This company must act immediately to restore these basic necessities.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
