Fordham tenant demands answers after living without gas in her building since 2022
Nellie Chacon says that she has since been relying on alternative electric appliances to cook for her family, but the usage of the small appliances has caused an increase to her Con Edison bills.
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A resident living in Fordham along E.188 Street says she and her neighbors have been living without gas in their building for roughly four years after a thunderstorm in 2022, caused a fire at top floor of the building.
Nellie Chacon says that she has since been relying on alternative electric appliances to cook for her family, but the usage of the small appliances has caused an increase to her Con Edison bills.
"The electric bill goes up and it's not a joke with this," said Chacon.
Chacon said Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation has provided double burner hot plates for her to cook, but after four years, she's missed out on cooking big holiday meals.
"I can't cook with that, that much. Sometimes I go to buy food that is already cooked to warm it up in the microwave. And that's money, too," shared Chacon.
She also claims management has given little to no update on repairs.
"The thing they say, 'Oh, we went in for the insurance, we wait for the insurance.'
How long is it going to take? We've been paying rent," stated Chacon."
On Wednesday, News 12 spoke to Robert Donovan, the director of Construction Services at Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation, for answers on when the gas would be restored, and why it has taken years to do so.
Donovan explained Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation, a nonprofit who oversees the building hopes to have the gas restored to the building by the end of next month.
"We're actually hoping to get back to work in June because we don't actually negotiate with the insurance company, the contractor does. They've come to an agreement, and they think they'll be able to pretty much complete the building with what the insurance company is giving them, and then we're going to have to kick in some money as well," said Donovan.
