Personally; I tell anyone who asks me about this building. AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS, IF YOU HAVE STANDARDS!
I have resided here, for a little over 6 years. Four of those years were descent, and livable; while Maria Rogers was working here as BREAKING GROUND's Program Director. Once she left, to work at the BREAKING GROUND's Boston Road location; the decline in the standard of the building was almost immediate.
This building, is meant to house drug addicts, people with mental illness, and emotional illnesses. It's NOT designed for tenants, who just want a basic building, to come home do, relax, unwind, and prepare for a busy week.
What makes it worse; is the fact that the Building Management company (BREAKING GROUND formerly known as COMMON GROUND),. the Case Workers (BRONXWORKS formerly known as the Citizens Advice Bureau) , are all in house companies. They "work" here (stay in the office, play on the computer, create paperwork, etc.,) from 9:00a,m, - 5:00p.m.
In my opinion; both organizations are comprised of 2 groups.
1. Individuals freak out of training; and lack the experience to get a better paying job.
2. Individuals who have been in Bureaucracies for too long, have grown accustomed to doing the minimum for a paycheck, and really CAN'T get a job at a company where results matter.
I affectionately refer to this building, as the "Asylum". Trust me, when I tell you; that the Inmates run it. They have no fear of being kicked out. New York is a VERY tenant-friendly city. These professional drug addicts; know how to game the system. Which leaves tenants like myself, with little or no recourse when having to deal with the noises, and the messes that they create.
When I first moved here in April 2010; we used to have furniture in the main lobby. A couch, table, magazine rack, etc. But; based on the types of tenants that the BROOK was opening its door to, I knew these amenities wouldn't be here for long. By the same time, in April 2017; the lounging area was GONE.
The building has a 24 hour laundry room. I stopped using it, after 2 1/2 years. Once the machines got bed bugs, and other vermin; from tenants bringing in trashed clothes from the street, and attempting to "wash" them in the BROOK's washing machines. I had to dispose of 2 GEOFFREY BEENE dress shirts. That hurt! Its a good brand, for wash and wear dress clothing. Things got so bad in this building; that I take my laundry, and travel a little over 1 mile, and use a public laundromat. Prior to deciding to do that; I suggested to Building Management; to have a sign in sheet, for the laundry room; so that when tenants leave their clothes in the washer or dryer, long after the machine has shut down, that tenant can be called in their apartment. Then they could come down and remove their clothes. Many of these tenants, go back to their Apartment, and continue with their drug usage; so after 20 minutes, you couldn't wake them out of their stupor, if you were the N. Y. P. D. Needless to say; Building Management, NEVER implemented my suggestion of a sign in book, for the laundry room.
The building also have a 24 hour gym. Personally I don't understand why. Its not like these tenants are going to put down the crack pipe, K2, etc., to get their physical health in order. These same tenants can't even be persuaded to keep their personal hygiene in order. Even when having meetings with their in-house Case Managers.
A lot of the tenants at the BROOK; are 2 legged animals. Anytime a Case Manager, has to enter a tenant's Apartment wearing a protective Hazmat suit, what does that say about the QUALITY of individuals, that the staff are allowing to reside here? It tells me; that many of these tenants, REQUIRE a lot more than a Case Manager, typing "updates" into a Keyboard.
Forget about telling the housing division (BREAKING GROUND) any of your concerns. I send e-mails, phone calls, etc. I get no direct response, from the Main Office. I just mostly use the e-mail, as proof of my attempt at Correspondence, in case I ever have to prove in court, that I notified someone at the main office on Eighth Avenue. Its a Bureaucracy, which turns people who receive Social Security, and Disability, into a commodity.
The 3 worst floors (loud music, loud T. V., yelling in the hallway, roaches, mice, bed bugs, heavy drug usage, etc.,) are the 4th floor, 5th floor, and 6th floor. Personally; I avoid those problems, by having my own door sweep, attached to my apartment door. Not one of those cheap, bargain basement devices. And that WILL be uninstalled, and packed with me; when I vacate this building. The new tenant, does NOT get the benefit of my investment.
So; besides pests (the 2 legged, and multi-legged varieties); you have to deal with tenants playing their music LOUDLY during the daytime, and many times overnight.
STAY AWAY! read more
