A year ago, just days before Christmas, a devastating fire forced 250 tenants out of their homes in an apartment building on 47th Avenue in Sunnyside, Queens. Since then, life has been anything but easy for these families.
On Friday, tenants gathered to demand action from their landlord, urging them to speed up the repairs and let them move back into their homes. The fire, caused by a construction worker using a blowtorch, left the building badly damaged, and the long wait for repairs has tested everyone’s patience.
The landlord, A&E Real Estate, has extended temporary housing agreements for 13 households by another six months. But many tenants are frustrated, feeling like progress on fixing the building has been painfully slow. They say not enough has been done to ensure stable housing during this difficult time.
A&E Real Estate points fingers at the insurance company, claiming it’s the main reason for the delays. According to them, the insurer took control of the rebuilding process but has been dragging its feet. To speed things up, the landlord has even asked the state Supreme Court to step in and push the process forward.
For the tenants, this year has been a tough and uncertain journey. They’re calling for quicker action and more support as they wait to return to the place they once called home.
