Miriam Gruela says it’s been months since she alerted her management company about water damage in her kitchen, nothing has been done, and she’s now concerned about potential mold growing that could impact her health.

“I just got it painted last year and slowly but surely this started happening within the last six or seven months and it’s just been getting worse and worse,” said Gruela.

She’s lived at Lenox Terrace for more than 20 years. According to the tenants association Gruela is just one of hundreds of tenants that say they’re dealing with ongoing maintenance issues.

What You Need To Know

  • Miriam Gruela said it's been months since she alerted her management company about water damage in her kitchen.

  • According to the tenants association, Gruela is just one of hundreds of tenants that say they’re dealing with ongoing maintenance issues.

  • The six buildings that make up Lenox Terrace from 132nd to 135th Streets between Malcom X Boulevard and 5th Avenue are billed as Harlem’s first luxury development, built in the late 1950s and 60s.

  • In a statement from the Olnick Organization, the buildings' owner, a spokesperson said they are commitment to residents will continue to listen to their feedback

The six buildings that make up Lenox Terrace from 132nd to 135th Streets between Malcom X Boulevard and 5th Avenue are billed as Harlem’s first luxury development, built in the late 1950s and 60s. Many of Harlem’s political elite, like former Congressman Charlie Rangel, call it home. But some tenants say throughout the years the buildings have lost their luster and the pandemic made living conditions worse.

“My friend down the hallway, she’s putting her baby to bed, she has a two year old and they were freezing,”said Gruela.

“I had so much mold inside that mushrooms grew,” said Lynnell Bunce, a resident of Lenox Terrace since 1987.

According to the buildings’ tenant association, more than 300 tenants have signed a petition listing unresolved maintenance concerns.

“We have a deep responsibility to the residents of Lenox Terrace, and their quality of life is our top priority,” said the buildings’ owner, Olnick Organization, in a statement. “Our commitment has always been and will continue to be to listen to their feedback and improve how we serve them”

Some tenants like Mary Martha Ford side with management, disagreeing with the tenants association and petitioners. Ford says management has been responsive to her complaints despite staffing challenges that came with the pandemic.

“People will have issues living in apartments living in NYC, we’re heavily populated right? But we also have to consider that we are still in a pandemic so there has to be some form of grace,” said Ford.

As for Gruela, she hopes her and others’ complaints are resolved before the problems get worse.

“In all my years I’ve never seen it this bad,” Gruela said.