In a six-story Highbridge walkup, tenants say they are locked in a full-on bed bug battle that is just the latest chapter in a long-running saga of leaks, rodents and repairs that never quite stick. Residents at 1187 Anderson Avenue report that the pests have crawled from the first floor up to at least the fourth, leaving families, including those with infants, too anxious to get a full night's sleep. Some neighbors say they have already packed up and left, while others have turned to rent strikes in an effort to force overdue fixes.
Residents told local TV that the infestation started about six weeks ago and that fresh bites and bug sightings are now a grim part of daily life on several floors, according to ABC7. Tenants say conditions have been poor for roughly four years, pointing to recurring water leaks, rat activity and unreliable maintenance, and they describe past protests as yielding only piecemeal repairs. Efforts to reach the building manager for comment have gone nowhere, residents told reporters.
New owners, old code problems
The building is part of a larger bundle of properties that changed hands in February, a sale that local reporting says shifted several Highbridge walkups to new landlords. As reported in coverage of the Yankee Stadium apartment deal, the package was purchased after years of legal fights over rents and repairs. City property records reviewed by PropertyShark show the transfer for 1187 Anderson Avenue was recorded in late February for roughly $10.68 million.
Tenants have a long paper trail
Organizers and attorneys say 1187 Anderson has a long history of tenant organizing, court battles and city inspections, including a 2022 lawsuit that laid out dozens of open housing violations. Court filings and building records reviewed by Legal Services NYC document years of HPD citations and tenant complaints. Advocates say that track record helps explain why residents are skeptical that a simple ownership change will magically fix the building.
Tenants told ABC7 the property currently carries 22 active Department of Buildings violations and that families cannot afford to sit tight while repairs inch along. “They have babies. And they cannot live in a building where that is in fact like that,” resident Mercedes Escoto told the station. Tenants say the growing infestation, combined with long delays on basic fixes, pushed them into an organized rent strike and has already driven some households out of the building.
How tenants can report bed bugs
The city advises tenants dealing with pest problems to file a complaint through NYC311. Reports of infestations in residential buildings can trigger HPD inspections and may result in violations against owners, according to city guidance. See NYC311 for details on how to report bed bugs and for HPD procedures, along with Department of Health information on safe treatment and disclosure requirements. Tenant groups recommend logging 311 complaints while working with legal aid or organizers to press building management to address infestations quickly.
For now, residents say they are waiting to see whether the latest owner actually tackles the repair backlog or simply inherits the building's long list of code orders. Local elected officials and tenant advocates say they will keep pushing for inspections and enforcement until families once again feel safe in their own homes.
