Flushing’s Pomonok Housing was once considered the crown jewel of the NYC Housing Authority, but some tarnish has accrued over decades of neglect, mismanagement and budget cuts, according to tenants.
Monica Corbett, president of the Pomonok Residents Association, guided elected officials through the development last Thursday to show them the unkempt grounds, flooded parking lot, broken doors and overall lack of maintenance.
Corbett said the development was once a nice place to come home to, but at this point NYCHA is demanding more money from residents for very few services. She called on the agency to work with the residents to make Pomonok a better place to live.
State Sen. Toby Stavisky (D-Flushing), Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (D-Flushing) and City Councilman Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows) observed the conditions and spoke about the root causes and the need for NYCHA to address the issues.
“This is an ongoing problem,” Stavisky said. “The Dumpsters are overflowing; there’s debris on the street; we have a little lake over there in the parking lot. I’m sorry for the person whose car is partially underwater, but this shows the lack of personnel here at Pomonok to take care of these situations.”
The submerged parking space in “Lake Pomonok” costs the tenant approximately $600 for the year.
Stavisky said there are only 12 caretakers for the entire complex, down from 45 about 10 years ago. NYCHA says there are 25. There used to be seasonal summer and winter workers, but they’re gone.
Pomonok consists of 52 acres with 14 buildings and 2,171 apartments.
12 comments:
The garbage problem might not be their fault entirely - illegal apartment/house occupants all over Queens dump their household garbage wherever they feel like it - even on our front-lawns these days!
They have to lock up the dumpsters in a cage.
I grew up across the street in electchester. my whole family were IBEW union men. that area was awesome. of course It was the 60s and demographics were a lot different then they are today.
"“This is an ongoing problem,” Stavisky said. “The Dumpsters are overflowing; there’s debris on the street...."
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This problem has been festering for a long time, and she decides to hold a photo-op now, just two weeks before the Primary. Excellent timing!
where is resorts world?can they grease some wheels and get this fixed?
maybe if the residents paid enough rent to cover the cost of upkeep and improvements, there wouldnt be an issue?
Boo Hoo if you don't like living in the projects then get a job and move out. If you want to live like an animal and break the place, throw garbage everywhere, and defecate in the stairwells don't complain because its not maintained like a five star hotel. No one is forcing you to stay.
As a taxpayer I'm tired of working hard and paying for the upkeep of places like this where people lounge around all day and do absolutely nothing with their lives.
Just because they are poor, why don't they deserve the services of a five star hotel?
It's so easy to say "get a job." But there are no jobs available, only form rejection emails to hopeless applicants.
I was there recently and some black kid on an obviously stolen girls' bike ran me off the sidewalk while balancing some Gino's on the handlebars. Maybe they should interview some of these "needy" people before letting them take up residence in government housing.
How about middle class residents pay market rates for their apartments ?!?!?!? You get a parking spot for $600! A year?? How do you afford a car if you're supposedly poor??? What bs!!!!!
The upkeep of the Pomonok campus benefits not only its residents but also the surrounding community. For many residents, the campus functions as a park that happens to have residential towers sprinkled throughout it. I would like to see it playgrounds maintained its empty flagpole restored and more plants planted.
I like across the street in Electchester and I remember a time when Pomonok was the cleaned NYCHA project in the city. Part of the responsibility rests on the tenants not to litter.
How about middle class residents pay market rates for their apartments ?!?!?!? You get a parking spot for $600! A year?? How do you afford a car if you're supposedly poor??? What bs!!!!!
EXACTLY! Furthermore you don't need a vehicle if you live over there, it's not like living in SI or Far Rock. Even if you DO need a car for some reason, a parking spot is a luxury and it sounds like this person should have their rent responsibility increased, if they can afford a spot!
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