The public relations firm representing Jerome Park’s Tracey Towers housing complex, responded to a Norwood News story published in our April 21-May 4 edition, in which we reported on a wall collapse and stop work order in place by New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), which temporarily shut the Tracey Towers playground.

 

In the statement issued by Bill Corbett of Corbett Public Relations, with copy to a second PR firm representative, Don Miller of West End Strategies, on Monday, May 2, Corbett wrote, “The safety of residents and the public remains the number one priority of Tracey Towers Associates. All repairs in the park were completed to cure the vacate order that you are inquiring about. The playground is open and available to resident families.”

 

The statement continued, “All elevator inspections and upgrades that are required by Department of Buildings are up to date and have been filed with the DOB. The deck and the ramp are built above the MTA train yard and require regular maintenance. When there is a location that requires a repair, ‘Tracey Towers’ must coordinate with the MTA for track closures below to execute the repair.” Norwood News asked for clarification as to who exactly is meant by “Tracey Towers,” in this context.

 

The statement concluded, “In some instances, the area needing repair will have a steel plate installed over it until the repair is executed. We believe this may be what you were referring to. The vacate order and violations that you have cited have been cured, some years ago. In most cases they are awaiting administrative closure by the DOB.”

 

After receiving a copy of the PR statement, Andrew Rudansky, press secretary at the DOB told Norwood News, “As discussed on April 21st, the partial vacate order for the playground at 40 West Mosholu Parkway South [the location of the towers] is still in effect. We were last on scene on April 20, 2022.”

 

Rudansky added, “According to DOB records of filed elevator inspection reports, these elevators were last inspected by the owner’s elevator service contractor on 5/19/21 and 5/20/21. There are several, previously issued DOB violations related to non-hazardous, related defects, and the owner’s failure to file the required elevator inspection reports with the building. The owners are responsible for resolving and closing out these violations.”

 

When presented with Rudansky’s response that the vacate order was still in effect, and that the elevator violations had not yet been resolved, Miller told Norwood News, “The previous vacate order for the playground and the non-hazardous elevator violations are purely administrative and no corrective work is required. The removal and dismissal of these violations are presently being processed with the NYC Department of Buildings.”

 

Norwood News followed up again with DOB to ask if they agreed with the latest response from the PR firm.

 

We also asked for clarity on the exact role played by “Tracey Towers Associates” a private limited partnership, vis-a-vis Tracey Towers, since we had previously been in touch with RY Management last year in relation to several other repair issues raised by tenants during a Tracey Towers Tenants Organization meeting held on July 22, 2021. We were provided with the following explanation by Corbett: “RY Management is the Managing Agent for Tracy Towers Associates.”

 

In addition, Norwood News asked for an update on the status of the repair issues raised at that time with RY Management. We received the following responses to our questions:

 

Residents had complained that the washing machines did not work and were eating their money. Corbett PR responded, saying, “The laundry rooms are leased out to a commercial contractor. Management has been meeting with the Tenant Association and has agreed to lease the room to an alternative company. The current vendor and equipment were selected by both management and the Tenant Association interviewing providers. The same process is going to be used in the selection of the new vendor and equipment.”

 

Residents had asked to know when the fire alarm had last been tested, and if it had gone off during the fire at the towers on July 23, 2021, as reported at the time, as one resident said he never heard it. Corbett PR firm replied, saying, “All building fire alarm systems are operational, and all apartments have smoke detection systems that are tested annually. Management will send staff to any resident’s apartment to test smoke alarms upon request.” No response was provided regarding the residents’ questions on the fire dated July 23, 2021. Norwood News has contacted FDNY for an update. We did not receive an immediate response.

 

Residents had complained that people were leaving too many things on their terraces and there was a fear they would become a fire hazard if someone dropped a cigarette from a higher floor. Corbett PR replied, saying, “Residents should not be leaving items on terraces. When management discovers a resident has items on their terrace that should not be there, management instructs the resident to remove the items. Most residents comply but there are instances where management must move to court proceedings because a resident will not comply with the request.”

 

Residents had complained that security is not adequate, that the security team were young, that they did not know the building layout and could not direct people to the right area, did not recognize the residents, and did not lock the doors. Corbett PR replied, saying, “The current security company has been providing services for many years. The majority of the supervisors for this site have been at Tracey Towers for more than 10 years. Security supervisors are well acquainted with the property and know many of the residents.”

 

Residents had complained that the intercom didn’t work in the elevators and that if there was an emergency, they couldn’t speak to security as there was no connection to the security team. Corbett PR replied, saying, “For accuracy, all elevator intercoms are operational. They are checked once a day. If a resident pushes the intercom, it rings at security. If security does not pick up the call, [it]  immediately rolls over to the elevator company.”

 

Residents had complained that the elevators were frequently out of order.  Corbett PR replied, saying, “There are 12 elevators, and one is currently undergoing maintenance. All others are operational.”

 

Residents had complained that people were either not disposing of their trash correctly or that trash was not being picked up often enough by the private sanitation company. Corbett PR replied, saying, “There is no private sanitation. Trash is picked up by the NYC Department of Sanitation.”

 

Residents had asked when was the last time the water had been checked given the prior instances of Legionnaires’ disease at the towers. In the meantime, as reported, a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease was also reported last month in Highbridge and Melrose. There are currently 24 cases identified in the Bronx, including two deaths, as reported Corbett PR replied, saying, “Water tanks are cleaned annually. This has no correlation to Legionnaires’ bacteria. Tracey Towers has installed a copper silver ionization system in the building to combat legionella that can be introduced through water that is supplied to the building from reservoirs or develops in potted water supplies.”

 

Residents had complained that the intercom in the building was not working to buzz people in from an apartment when they were expecting visitors rather than having to leave the door open downstairs for anyone to enter, which was a security concern.

 

Corbett PR replied, saying, “The current intercom system is wired ‘in series,’ and this is outdated. It is being upgraded to an internet-based system.” No target implementation date was given.

 

Residents had complained that there was a lack of safety crossings outside the building, and that too many drivers were in a hurry to overtake other cars in the vicinity outside the towers. Some residents said it was not safe for seniors, especially those who could not move quickly and get out of the way of speeding traffic.

 

Corbett PR replied, saying, “Management is committed to the safety of all residents and visitors. Management will work with residents to see what the New York City Council can do about installing stop lights and other traffic controls.”

 

Norwood News contacted some of the Tracey Towers residents in order to ask if they agree with the responses provided by Corbett PR firm to the various issues raised last year. Jean Hill, president of Tracey Towers Tenants Organization, responded, saying, “Seems accurate.”

 

We also followed up with DOB as to the status of the previously raised violations. A DOB spokesperson responded, saying, “There is currently a partial vacate order (partial vacate) issued by DOB on 12/14/2018 at 40 West Mosholu Parkway South, Bronx. The partial vacate will remain active until the property owner provides proof of correction and such proof is approved by DOB.”

 

The spokesperson added, “There are a total of 19 open DOB violations at the 40 West Mosholu Parkway South, Bronx, all of which were issued in relation to the building’s elevator devices. Additional information can be found here. The violations will remain active until the property owners property owner provides proof of correction and such proof is approved by DOB.”

 

Meanwhile, there has been a build-up of graffiti on the wall extending from Towers Towers to Dewitt Clinton campus at Paul Avenue, between West Mosholu Parkway South and East 205th Street, by the MTA maintenance yard. Some local parents, including Sirio and Heather Guerino, whose kids attend DeWitt Clinton High School, expressed their wish for it to be removed ahead of their kids’ graduation ceremonies to be held later this summer.

 

Heather Guerino told Norwood News some parents had written to Sen. Jamaal Bailey (S.D. 36), Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) and District 11 City Councilman Eric Dinowitz to see what could be done about the issue, adding that the wall had reportedly been repainted in 2019 with city funding secured by former District 11 City Councilman, now Judge Andrew Cohen. Norwood News has reached out to the elected officials for comment. A representative for Eric Dinowitz said his office was aware of the issue and was working on a solution.

 

A representative for Jeffrey Dinowitz has also responded in the meantime, saying he [the media representative] had only just seen the request as he had been out of the office ill, but is following up.

 

A representative from Bailey’s office later said the senator’s constituent services team was working to resolve the issue and has contracted out Wildcat/Fedcap regarding removal services.