Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Harlem Building Shuts Off Gas, Gives Only Market-Rate Tenants Electric Stoves
By
Lauren Evans
Published Jan 5, 2015
Modified Jan 5, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Lauren Evans
Published Jan 5, 2015
Modified Jan 5, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Management of a rent-stabilized Harlem apartment building has failed to provide some—but not all—tenants with adequate cooking devices after gas was shut off several months ago. Guess who was gifted with new, electric stoves, and who got slapped with a hot plate?
According to DNAinfo, market-rate tenants who moved into the gas-less apartment—thanks to a fire in an adjoining bodega six months ago—struck a deal with the building's owners, scoring an electric stove after they'd moved in.
Such a deal was not extended to rent-stabilized residents, who were instead offered... hot plates. "I'm happy for them. Somebody should get something out of this," said 26-year-old Vaniqua Picard, adding that she's enraged for her grandmother, with whom she lives. "She’s been living here for more than 20 years. It's not fair to the older people."
The lack of equity is not the only thing plaguing the building, which has racked up more than 100 violations for issues like an abundance of mice and failing to repair a busted front door, according to the Department of Buildings.
A spokesperson for the management company attributed the delay to the need for "structural repairs," which have taken six months to complete. They've also conveniently leveraged the lack of gas to attempt to oust rent-stabilized tenants.
'“They called me and said, ‘Since you’re not happy, would you consider taking some money,’” one 25-year resident told the news site. “They want me out.”
Tagged
harlem
rent stabilization
Lauren Evans
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
A cyclist died after colliding with a dog in Central Park, NYPD says
The 71-year-old man was riding his bike near East Drive and 84th St.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Oct 5, 2026 at 10:50 a.m. ET
Early Addition: Do any of you get off at the 3rd Avenue L train stop?
Because one software engineer crunched the numbers and decided the stop is useless, here are your early links: Street named for Jose Alvarado in Bushwick, the TikTok star cleaning up tree beds, Ethan Slater in "Little Shop of Horrors" and more.
By
James Ramsay
News
Early Addition: Do any of you get off at the 3rd Avenue L train stop?
Because one software engineer crunched the numbers and decided the stop is useless, here are your early links: Street named for Jose Alvarado in Bushwick, the TikTok star cleaning up tree beds, Ethan Slater in "Little Shop of Horrors" and more.
By
James Ramsay
The American Chestnut tree returns to the Bronx Zoo after more than a century
By
Rosemary Misdary
2 people died in car crashes in Queens and Brooklyn in less than 1 day, NYPD says
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Mamdani will clear 10,000 families off waitlist for low-cost childcare
By
Karen Yi
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .