Monday, December 1, 2008

Tenants' hell at Schleicher Mansion

Outwardly, 11−41 123rd Street — known as Schleicher’s Court — seems like an ideal place to live. Built sometime in the 1850s, the three−story Victorian home stands out on the block — a red brick behemoth with high ceilings separated into seven spacious apartments and a large yard outside.

But a quick check of DOB records shows the 19th century relic is plagued by problems.

The house currently has 17 open DOB and Environmental Control Board violations dating back to 1997, involving everything from boiler issues to illegal construction. The building’s woes culminated on July 9, when a DOB inspector came to investigate a complaint of an illegal conversion in the basement and discovered the house’s electrical wiring was in shambles.

The DOB placed a full vacate order on the property the next day until the building’s owner, Eva Rohan, fixed the problems. More than five months later, Rodriguez and her fellow tenants still have not been able to return to their homes.

Four of the seven tenants said they have been staying with relatives in various parts of Queens, two remain in shelters and one tenant cut ties with Rohan entirely, opting instead to search for permanent housing elsewhere.

The tenants contend that Rohan and her sister, Georgina, who acts as the building’s manager, have neglected to fix the archaic electrical system in the building for more than a decade despite numerous violations — and thousands of dollars in unpaid fines — from the DOB.


Tenants just want to be home for holidays

A tour of some of the residents’ apartments revealed newly installed fuse boxes, with no fuses or wiring attached.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

We all know that the victims of this travesty are not rich powerful cronies of Commissar Death and Taxes, but, wouldn't this be a terrific opportunity to use eminent domain to seize this building from its negligent owner and turn it over to the residents who have been victimized?

Plus, supply the money to make every required repair, until the residents can return to a safe, operational structure. And, the residents become paying owners of the building.

Why isn't property seizure a standard component of any action against building owners who refuse to deliver to the paying residents?

Why is property seizure reserved only to enrich developers who take no risks, yet keep all profits (to share with the Commissar)?

Anonymous said...

Great idea,i heard these tenants already asked the Slumlord if they could own their own apartments,after making them all go thru this hell,that's what should happen....

Anonymous said...

no one cares about this.. bull doze the place and but a mini mart there... with brand new apartments above.

Anonymous said...

OKAY....WHICH ''REAL ESTATE AGENT ARE YOU FROM?????LOL!!

Anonymous said...

NEW YORK1 AIRED A GREAT &TRUTHFUL STORY ABOUT THIS ''SLUMLORD'' HOW CAN SHE GET AWAY WITH HAVING THESE POOR PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES FOR SSSSOOOOOO LONG??? I HOPE SHE GETS ARRESTED FOR WHAT SHE HAS MADE THESE PEOPLE GO THRU...WHAT A WITCH!!!SHAME ON HER,HOW DOES SHE SLEEP AT NIGHT??? HEAR SHE WILL FINALLY APPEAR IN COURT ON MONDAY....

Anonymous said...

These tenants will be back in court,Dec.24,2008..WHEN DO THE COURTS DO SOMETHING FOR THESE HOMELESS FAMILIES??THIS IS SUCH A SHAME??POOR CHILDREN...WHAT KIND OF CHRISTMAS WILL THEY HAVE??THE BITCH DESERVES JAIL TIME!!