Toxic terrace: Pigeon poop on Brighton Beach balcony becomes biohazard
The tenants say their balcony used to be their “little garden oasis,” but six years ago, the city condemned all balconies in the building because of disrepair.
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A Brighton Beach couple says their once peaceful ocean-view terrace has turned into a toxic hazard, overrun by pigeons and their droppings.
Anne and Cliff Hesse have lived at 1311 Brightwater Ave. for more than 50 years.
They say their balcony used to be their “little garden oasis,” but six years ago, the city condemned all balconies in the building because of disrepair.
Since then, pigeons have taken over. They said two inspectors from the Department of Health deemed it toxic.
“So toxic that he said to us, ‘Don’t open your windows, don’t open your door, and don’t use your air conditioning, because you’ll bring in toxic spores,’” Hesse said.
The Hesses say the wiring that once kept pigeons away has eroded over time, allowing the birds to nest freely.
Despite efforts to scare them off, the couple says the infestation has only gotten worse. They’ve reached out to the management company and co-op board repeatedly, to no avail.
“This is horrible, and I’ve gotten no response,” Hesse said.
City records show the Department of Buildings has issued dozens of violations to the property for failing to maintain the balconies, resulting in thousands of dollars in fines.
Last month, management emailed residents saying façade repairs would begin in the coming weeks.
But the Health Department warns that dust from dried pigeon droppings can be toxic if inhaled, raising concerns about how cleanup work will be handled safely.
“I refuse to let it make me give up my home,” Hesse said.
News 12 reached out to the management company and the co-op board for comment but has not yet heard back.
