'Like a polar plunge.' Williamsburg tenants go days without hot water
Tenants say the hot water issues are part of a broader pattern of problems in the building, including leaks, long stretches without heat or air conditioning, and frequent elevator breakdowns.
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Residents of the 14-story building at 491 Keap St. in Williamsburg say they’ve had no adequate hot water for almost a week, during one of the coldest stretches of winter.
City law requires landlords to provide hot water around the clock at a minimum temperature of 120 degrees.
“It’s a lot of quick showers, basically a polar plunge,” said tenant Karlyn Murphy.
Tenants say the hot water issues are part of a broader pattern of problems in the building, including leaks, long stretches without heat or air conditioning, and frequent elevator breakdowns.
“The elevator will stop suddenly and drop between floors,” Murphy said. “We’ve had the NYPD and fire department come out multiple times to rescue tenants.”
Residents say the entire building is currently relying on a temporary boiler installed outside nearly a year ago, which they say is not sufficient to serve the building.
The building includes 52 residential apartments and the Indigo Hotel. Dozens of negative online reviews reference similar complaints, including lack of hot water, unreliable heat and air conditioning and poor maintenance.
Tenants have been engaged in a legal battle with the landlord, Chetrit Group, and Plaza management. They have been on a rent strike since last year, placing their rent payments into an escrow account instead of paying the landlord directly.
The building is now in foreclosure proceedings. Last summer, a court-appointed receiver took over the property and brought in NYC Management to oversee operations.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the court-appointed receiver and NYC Management said the building has been operated for the past few months by Jason Sackoor, a neutral third-party receiver appointed by Kings County Supreme Court, along with New York City Management.
The spokesperson said the receiver and management company have been “consistently responsive to tenant needs,” maintaining the building, expediting repairs, and paying property taxes, insurance and other operating costs.
According to the statement, once the receiver and management company became aware of issues with the existing boiler, they ordered a temporary boiler with a larger capacity to meet residents’ needs during what they described as an especially harsh winter. While the boiler was ordered Jan. 15, the spokesperson said delivery has taken longer than expected due to high demand during the winter season. The boiler will be installed once it is delivered.
The statement also said plans are already underway to purchase a new permanent boiler with sufficient capacity for the building.
But tenants say conditions have not improved since the change.
“They’re just as bad,” tenant Alex Hughes said.
