Inwood Stability: City Saves Neglected Apartment Building with New Program and Private Partnership

You know that people care about something when theyre willing to sit in sweltering heat for it. (Jess Schiewe)

Last Friday morning, Felix Guzman woke up early, grabbed his fishing pole, and headed over to the East River for some catch and release fun. For 40 years he has lived in the same building on Academy Street in Inwood and in that time he has seen a lot. So when he got back to his apartment around 11 am and saw that his street was teaming with newscasters, elected officials, cameramen, and local community members, he wasnt surprised. Theyd been there before. Its always been tough here, Mr. Guzman said. Im glad theyre doing something about it.

The building in question was 552 Academy Street, a crumbling 72-unit brick building located across the street from Mr. Guzmans apartment. A year ago he had stood outside and watched as dozens of tenants dragged their belongings onto the sidewalk, confused and frightened and wondering where they would relocate to next.

The building, the city told them, was unsafe, which was why they had to vacate the premises. Although Mr. Guzman had never been inside, he heard rumors that at times the units lacked gas, running water, and electricity. This is what happens when you get these slumlords and all they care about is the money, Mr. Guzman said, referring to the buildings landlord, Rachel Arfa, whom the City blames for the hazardous conditions.

With the help of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the tenants31 families in total were relocated to temporary apartments around the city, in neighborhoods like Hillside, Thayer, and Elmwood.

But on Friday, many of the tenants were back in their old neighborhood, rubbing shoulders with the suits and construction workers who were there to announce the good news: 552 Academy Street would be rehabilitated and open for residency in the next 18 months. As part of Mayor Michael Bloombergs New Housing Marketplace Plan, the structure has received $21.1 million in funding that will be used to rebuild, stabilize, and improve the old, defunct building.

This is a really big step for us, said Iris Bertoni, a representative of the buildings tenant association who had lived in the same apartment on the third floor for 50 years. Were coming back home.

In addition to improved mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, the building, which was formerly a walk-up, will be redesigned to include an elevator line, a community room, and new kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry room. The renovations, which will modernize the building and bring it up to code, are the result of a lengthy battle between the City and Arfa for possession of the building. According to the Department of Buildings website, Arfa was charged with allowing structural stability and egress issues to develop over the last ten years, and has since been removed as the buildings owner.

This building has a history that is unfortunately not as uncommon as we would like, HPD Commissioner Mathew Wambua said,but one thing that it has in its favor is a support network equal to no other.The rehabilitation of the building, Mr. Wambua said, as well as the selection of a new owner, will bespearheaded by the Community League of the Heights (CLOTH) and Alembic Development Corporation.

Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, who donated $1 million to the project from his discretionary funds, was at the event on Friday, donning a plastic hardhat and black suit. I feel great, he said minutes after plunging a golden shovel into a pile of dirt as part of the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony. Not only was he glad that the tenants would be able to return to their former homes, he said, but he hoped that the event would serve as a warning to inept landlords throughout the city. We have no tolerance for negligence, he said. This is a message to any other landlord who doesnt reflect what they are supposed to be doing in terms of providing decent living situations for their tenants.

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Inwood Stability: City Saves Neglected Apartment Building with New Program and Private Partnership