Tenants at two Sheepshead Bay apartment buildings say they have been stuck for years with electrical hazards, rodent and roach infestations, broken appliances and leaks that let mold creep through their homes. Residents at 3205 and 3191 Emmons Avenue say they keep filing repair requests that go nowhere, while families try to live around what they describe as unsafe conditions. Several tenants say they have come home to find roach-infested kitchens and stoves that do not work, and that building management sometimes goes silent for months or even years.
Tenants Describe 'Dangerous' Conditions
As reported by News 12 on Friday, tenants including Shannon Ingram say they returned from a military deployment to find roaches in their kitchen, and that her stove has been out of commission for months. Other residents told reporters they are dealing with mice, visible mold and electrical issues that make their apartments feel downright dangerous. Tenants say they have called 311 and contacted building management over and over, only to see little or no response.
City Records Show Hundreds Of Violations
Public property records and building profiles show that both Emmons Avenue addresses have long histories of HPD and DOB notices tied to building conditions. For example, PropertyShark lists Department of Buildings and HPD entries connected to 3191 Emmons Avenue, while community monitoring reports on Displacement Alert flag persistent 311 complaints at both locations. Together, those records track closely with tenants’ accounts of chronic problems that never quite get fixed.
A&E Settlement Left Out Emmons Buildings
In January the Mamdani administration announced a $2.1 million settlement with A&E Real Estate that requires the company to correct more than 4,000 building-condition violations across 14 properties, according to HPD. Tenants and local advocates point out that 3205 and 3191 Emmons Avenue do not appear on the list of covered properties, which leaves residents there to keep pushing for repairs on their own. The agreement also includes injunctions that bar tenant harassment and sets specific timelines for repairs in the buildings that are part of the deal.
Management Response
In a written response to News 12, an A&E spokesperson said the company "works diligently to resolve issues for our residents" but added that repairs can be delayed by the need for city approvals and access to individual apartments. Tenants say that explanation does not square with problems that drag on for months at a time. Several residents told reporters they want clear timelines and visible proof that repair work is being scheduled and completed.
Legal Implications
City officials are not without tools. HPD’s settlement with A&E and the agency’s broader enforcement powers give the department several ways to force repairs, including emergency repair work, civil penalties and court orders if owners fail to comply, as outlined in the January announcement. The settlement also allows HPD to seek additional court orders and penalties if conditions are not corrected, creating a potential path for tenants to push for overdue work. Tenant advocates say those tools only matter if the city follows through with prompt inspections and consistent enforcement.
What Tenants Want Next
Residents say their wish list is simple: faster inspections, quicker repairs and better communication from both building management and city inspectors. Community organizations and local officials say they will keep an eye on the Emmons Avenue properties and continue pressing for action. In the meantime, tenants say they will keep documenting problems and urging HPD to use every enforcement option available to make sure long-promised repairs actually get done.
