You Won't Believe How A&E Real Estate Just Cost This City $2.1 Million – Find Out Why!

Residents of Jackson Heights, New York, are raising alarms over ongoing substandard living conditions in multiple buildings owned by A&E Real Estate. Tenants, frustrated by what they describe as a lack of accountability from the company, are voicing their concerns about deteriorating apartments that have prompted many to leave. Nathan Harding, a neighbor of de la Pava, expressed his dissatisfaction with A&E, stating, “A&E will just waste your time, or they just don’t maintain your apartment, so people just leave. There is no level of accountability.”

An A&E spokesperson responded to these claims by asserting that the company has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs since acquiring the buildings in Jackson Heights in 2021. While they noted that the majority of violations at 35-64 84th St. have been resolved, over 200 violations remain open at that location alone.

“We’ve made it our mission to collaborate with the city to improve this building and others that were in deep disrepair when we took ownership,” the spokesperson said. “In every building we’ve purchased, we’ve invested in replacing boilers, rehabbing elevators and fixing tens of thousands of longstanding violations.”

However, the settlement announced recently represents only a fraction of the numerous violations still plaguing these buildings. According to City Councilmember Shekar Krishnan, who represents the district, A&E has accumulated approximately 2,000 housing code violations across the 17 buildings it owns in Jackson Heights. “A&E’s greed has left New Yorkers without working elevators, crumbling bathroom ceilings, and termites eating through the walls,” Krishnan stated. “Here in Jackson Heights, we’ve been fighting alongside the tenants of A&E buildings for years. Every repair we’ve won leaves us with 10 more to fight for — their buildings are revolving doors of neglect and major housing violations.”

A prominent example is La Mesa Verde, where tenants have taken legal action against A&E through a lawsuit filed in September 2022 in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Communities Resist. The residents allege that the landlord has ignored serious issues such as falling ceilings, pest infestations, and mold growth. Ursulina Mora, a resident of La Mesa Verde for seven years, has experienced severe mold issues in her apartment and claims that attempts to contact A&E about these problems often go unanswered. “When we call the office and leave messages, they don’t even respond to the messages,” Mora said. “The mold harms all of us, even our pets, and us as human beings, so we’re demanding that our landlord fix it for us.”

The ongoing lawsuit reflects broader concerns about the treatment of tenants in A&E properties. Christos Bell, a lawyer representing the La Mesa Verde tenants, described A&E’s failure to address violations as more than just a financial issue. “It’s a systemic issue,” Bell said, emphasizing the pervasive nature of the problems tenants face.

This situation in Jackson Heights is a microcosm of the larger challenges facing renters across New York City, where neglect and disrepair remain persistent issues, particularly in older buildings. As residents continue to demand action, the spotlight remains on A&E Real Estate and its commitment to improving living conditions for its tenants. The ongoing frustration among tenants highlights a pressing need for greater accountability and responsiveness from landlords, particularly in a city where housing is already a contentious topic.