New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s recent spotlight on a Bronx apartment building has backfired with the revelation of serious housing issues.
The 102-unit building, operated by a nonprofit under the oversight of new Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Dina Levy, currently has 194 unresolved housing code violations, including 88 classified as “immediately hazardous,” with problems like rat infestations, broken doors, and mold dating back to 2016. Levy, 54, a tenant’s rights advocate and former state housing official earning $277,605 annually, was involved in the 2011 nonprofit acquisition of the property.
Many question if Mayor Mamdani’s push for nonprofit ownership aligns with his campaign promise to deliver quality, affordable homes for struggling New Yorkers. Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, has made housing a cornerstone of his early tenure, issuing multiple orders to reorganize city leadership and prioritize nonprofit takeovers of properties, according to Breitbart News. Yet, this particular building, undergoing an $8 million renovation, seems to undercut the narrative of progress. How can a property meant to exemplify success have nearly 200 violations?
Longtime residents aren’t mincing words about the conditions. “Since [the nonprofit] took over, the building has deteriorated,” said Mordistine Alexander, a 25-year tenant. “They lack porters. No one is maintaining it, and the complaints fall on deaf ears – especially if you complain a lot.”
That’s a gut punch for anyone hoping nonprofits would be the silver bullet for tenant struggles. If a building backed by government loans and tax breaks can’t keep rats and roaches at bay, what’s the real advantage over private landlords?
HPD, unsurprisingly, offers a rosier view. “When the building was at risk of being purchased by a predatory buyer, Dina Levy organized alongside the tenants and kept the building affordable,” said spokesman Matt Rauschenbach. That’s a noble spin, but 88 hazardous violations suggest affordability isn’t the only metric that matters.
Kenny Burgos, former Bronx assemblyman and head of the New York Apartment Association, points out a broader trend. Nonprofit-run buildings often rack up more violations than their privately owned counterparts—despite extra financial perks. Sedgwick Avenue, he notes, outpaces roughly three-quarters of rent-stabilized private properties in open HPD complaints.
That statistic stings. If nonprofits are the mayor’s big idea to replace private landlords, shouldn’t they at least match basic standards? This isn’t just about one building; it’s about a policy direction that might be more idealism than practicality.
Mamdani’s early days in office have been a whirlwind of housing-focused orders, including creating new community engagement offices. But when a flagship example like Sedgwick Avenue is riddled with mold and broken appliances, it’s hard to take the rhetoric seriously. Tenants deserve results, not press conferences.
Levy’s background as a tenant advocate and her role in the 2011 deal to save this property from private hands are commendable on paper. Yet, with violations piling up since 2016, one wonders if her talents are being misapplied—or if the system itself is the hurdle.
The ongoing $8 million renovation might be a step forward, but it’s tough to cheer when tenants are living with immediate hazards today. Good intentions don’t patch broken refrigerators or evict rodents overnight. When will these fixes actually materialize?
This saga isn’t just a Bronx problem; it’s a litmus test for Mamdani’s broader agenda. Pushing nonprofits as the answer while sidestepping accountability risks alienating the very New Yorkers he vowed to help. Struggling families need safe homes, not political experiments.
Ultimately, the Sedgwick Avenue story raises a hard question for City Hall. If even a highlighted property under nonprofit control can’t meet basic standards, how can taxpayers trust this model to scale citywide? It’s time for answers, not more photo ops.
