Dozens of East Harlem tenants took their fight to the sidewalk on Wednesday, rallying outside the Carolina Apartments and accusing their landlord of letting the building fall apart while trying to push longtime residents out. Tenants described roach infestations, black mold, elevators that repeatedly break down and a front door that will not lock, conditions they say leave seniors and people with mobility issues stuck at home and families worried about their health. Organizers used the rally to roll out a new tenant union and called on owner Tahl Propp Equities to pause eviction cases until repairs are completed.
Tenants recount months of failures
At the microphone, residents ticked through a long-running list of problems, from broken washing machines and leaking air conditioners to ceiling cracks and paint peeling off around faulty AC units. Some apartments, they said, have visible black mold. Tenant leader Maude Burke told reporters she wants management to restore the laundry room, improve security and take responsibility for basic upkeep. Several residents described ceilings damaged by leaks, and one relative said her grandson’s asthma worsened after mold appeared in their unit, according to PIX11.
City records show dozens of open violations
Public records show that the city has flagged the building for a long list of issues. Housing-code data list multiple unresolved violations related to pests, unsafe building systems and other hazards. Tenants and organizers say the Carolina currently has 84 open violations on file with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. For more on how the city tracks and enforces these problems, see HPD.
Management says repairs are underway
In a written statement, Tahl Propp Equities said it cannot address specific eviction cases but maintained that it is handling maintenance requests involving elevators, heating and cooling systems, the front door and other building operations as they come in. The company said a replacement lock for the front entrance is scheduled to be installed on Friday, July 24, 2026. The statement was shared with reporters covering the protest, according to PIX11.
Neighbors organize and press their case
Tenant leaders said the newly formed union will serve as a hub for organizing, helping residents coordinate complaints, document conditions and push for a clear timeline for fixes. They are demanding that the owner drop what they describe as intimidating eviction cases and say they are prepared to lean on HPD and local elected officials if repairs stall. Organizers also signaled that more public actions and possible legal moves are on the table if conditions do not improve.
What tenants can expect next
Under city rules, unresolved or repeated code violations can trigger enforcement by HPD, which can levy fines or order emergency repairs and bill the owner. Tenants at the rally were urged to keep documenting problems, call 311 and connect with tenant-rights organizations if they believe they are facing retaliation. For now, residents say the next few days will show whether management’s promises turn into actual fixes in the hallways and inside their apartments.
