Jackson Heights, Queens – Today, Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, Shaquana Boykin of Communities Resist, and other advocates, along with residents of 35-05 94th Street, Jackson Heights in Queens gathered in front of the building to call attention to the heinous housing conditions of the six-story building, which includes 72 units.

Residents first contacted the Assembly Member’s office on November 19 to call attention to ongoing issues in the building. Residents contacted the office again, stating the building had been without heat and hot water since November 25. On New York’s coldest days, residents have persistently lived without heat and hot water, as well as a working elevator. Residents have heated their apartments by turning on their stoves and ovens, and have showered at their local gyms and boiled water for bathing children. Not only are basic living conditions unstable, but also the general safety of their community is under threat as tenants have observed drug activity and weapons being stored in the grass in front of the building.

At least 33 residents have come forward to state their outrage and demand action from the building’s management, A&E Real Estate Holdings, which has a long, concerning history of neglect with several buildings in New York City. Currently, 35-05 94th Street has more than 200 violations filed in 2024, nearly 300 official complaints filed by residents, and more than $37,000 in fines and fees. The management company has yet to respond to residents about these critical issues and other persisting repair needs, including mold.

The Assembly Member’s office worked closely with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, following up on violations, as well with local community advocates, specifically Communities Resist (CoRe) to address this issue. CoRe is working on a lawsuit against A&E. State Senator Jessica Ramos’s office has also worked on addressing the issue.

On the evening of December 12, heat and hot water was temporarily restored. At the time of the press conference, the heat was off again. 

QUOTES

“A&E Real Estate Holdings, led by Douglas Eisenberg is committing some of the most egregious human rights violations we have seen in this city. No one paying rent should ever be suffering in their own homes without heat and running water. And these are just some of the neglect residents are facing today. There are several official complaints about unmanaged repairs including mold and safety concerns throughout the building. This is outrageous and it looks like fines are not enough to hold this company, and other slumlords like these, accountable. This kind of neglect cannot be lawful and must be remedied with the swiftest form of accountability,” said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas.

“Communities Resist is reestablishing its commitment to fighting for the housing rights of tenants throughout the city of New York. We are saddened but emboldened to say we continue our struggle with speculative landlords seeking to buy up and tear our city down, destroying the lives of everyday New Yorkers. We will continue our trend of empowering New Yorkers by offering legal representation to the TA association of this building and anyone else who wishes to join us in the fight for housing rights,” said John Francis, Communities Resist Supervising Attorney.