Queens Chronicle: Tenants demand answers, solutions

Queens Chronicle
July 31, 2025

Tenants demand answers, solutions
Jackson Heights residents call out A&E Real Estate for poor conditions
By Kristen Guglielmo

A group of tenants in Jackson Heights last Tuesday rallied for better conditions in their rental units after alleged neglect from the property owners.

The residents said that A&E Real Estate has left them with broken elevators and other poor conditions at 35-63 80 St., 35-64 81 St. and 35-64 84 St.

The broken elevators have impacted tenants with disabilities, parents with strollers and older residents, according to a release from Communities Resist, a housing legal services and advocacy organization, and Councilmember Shekar Krishnan (D-Jackson Heights). Some are unable to leave their building, they said.

According to the city Department of Buildings website, the property at 35-63 80 St. has eight active building violations with $16,250 owed in penalties. There are three active violations at 35-64 81 St., with $9,000 in penalties. At 35-64 84 St., 14 active violations resulted in $28,250 owed in civil penalties.

The infractions at the three properties all involve the elevators, and there are boiler violations at the 80th Street and 84th Street buildings.

A&E owns more than 180 buildings throughout New York City, according to Communities Resist, and has a total of 64,000 violations across the city.

According to the tenants at 35-64 84 St., A&E repaired the elevator shortly after last week’s press conference, but has still refused to completely replace it. Communities Resist said the elevator has been out of order for two consecutive summers, and tenants there have concerns about its longevity.

Krishnan in a statement said A&E should be ashamed of the living conditions of its tenants.

“I’m standing with the tenants of 35-63 80 St, 35-64 81 St, and 35-64 84 St, who deserve better from a rental monopoly that has put profit over the people that live in their buildings,” Krishnan said. “Tenants have been trapped in their apartments for months because of an endlessly broken elevator, forced to decide between climbing up and down six stories of stairs, risking their health in this endless heat, and getting the groceries or medications. A&E must imminently fix the elevators in their buildings and address the concerns of their tenants.”

Nathan Harding, a resident of one of the Jackson Heights buildings, said A&E has continuously neglected its properties and tenants.

“In my unit alone, my bathroom ceiling and wall have collapsed twice due to an ongoing leak,” Harding said. “Despite A&E scheduling repairs, no one ever shows. … Make no mistake, we want to stay in our homes and neighborhoods. And to do so, it’s going to require us all to organize much more strategically with fellow tenants, legal services, non-profits, and elected officials at the local, state, and federal level.
So let’s be clear: A&E — they’re not going anywhere. And neither are we.”

The Chronicle sent an email to A&E Real Estate to inquire about repairs and ask about plans to improve communication and accountability.

A spokesperson for the company said, “We understand residents’ frustration and are working hard to get elevators back in service as fast as possible. Since taking over management of these buildings, A&E has invested nearly one million dollars to repair aging elevators, install new boilers and make major upgrades — clearing more than 1,400 violations.”

The company said it had engaged an elevator repair service to begin work and hoped to have the issues resolved.