Harlem NYCHA Tenants Face Months Without Gas After Unexpected Notice

HARLEM, NY — Tenants at a NYCHA building in Harlem were unexpectedly told this week about a gas outage that will last until the middle of the summer, spurring outrage from residents and an investigation from a local elected.

Gas will be shut off at 550 W. 125th St. due to an "unavoidable circumstance" until July 31, meaning residents will be forced to cook on hot plates for at least the next six months, a notice shows.

"How is this legal?" tweeted Cristina Gonzalez, whose sister lives in the building. "I have no words."

In an interview with Patch, Gonzalez added, "These are decisions made by careless people who've never had to live in public housing."

Hot plates were distributed to residents, according to the notice. But as several people pointed out on Twitter — including New York state Sen. Julia Salazar — cooking large amounts of food on the devices is difficult.

"The hot plates ain't it," Salazar replied. "It often takes hours to cook a very basic meal with them. I'm so sorry that's happening, six months is unacceptable and shouldn't be legal."

A major leak in an underground gas main connected to Grant Houses Building 3 is at the root of the problem, NYCHA told Patch.

"Gas service restoration work is a matter of public safety that involves multiple partners and steps," the NYCHA spokesperson said. "We are currently working with the service provider and an outside vendor to determine the timeline for restoration."

A NYCHA utility tracker currently shows the Grant Houses, along with 59 other developments across the city, are dealing with some sort of gas outage.

Harlem City Council Member Shaun Abreu, whose district includes the Grant Houses, made it clear on the thread that his office was looking into the matter and told Patch he thought the seven month wait seemed too long.

"What is still unclear is why it will require seven months to make this repair, whether the repair could be made faster, and, if the repair does require a full seven months, why the pipes were so poorly maintained as to require such an extensive repair," Abreu said.

"I feel terrible for the families making do with hot plates like they’re on some sort of camping trip instead of an apartment in the middle of Manhattan."