STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Upon entering the 180 Park Hill Ave. apartment building, part of the Park Hill Apartments complex, you’re immediately greeted by a yellow bucket placed to catch drips from a gaping hole in the ceiling.
“When it leaks here, there’s a leak in my house… in my kitchen,” said a first-floor resident, who asked to remain anonymous. “I probably have mushrooms growing on the wall. I have two kids with me, and that’s probably why they’re always sick.”
Once you’ve entered the building lobby, look to your left or right, and you’ll see mailboxes missing their doors.
Ahead, a laundry room is propped open with a trash can. Inside, you’ll find a rusted sink, four working dryers out of five, and just four functional washing machines out of seven. The walls are chipped and peeling, contributing to a state of despair.
With the building standing six stories high, it is insufficient to accommodate all the residents, according to tenant Tanequa McCoy…