EAST Harlem, Manhattan (PIX11) — Dozens of tenants at The Carolina apartments in East Harlem held a rally Wednesday night, speaking out about the problems they say they’ve been forced to live with. 

Roach infestations, elevator outages, heating and cooling issues, defective washing machines, and a front door they say doesn’t lock are just some of the issues.


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“I had a massive leak in my bathroom from upstairs,” said Sabreen Spears, who lives in the building. “They could not figure out what happened. The leak went into my kids’ room and the hallway.”

Spears said her apartment has experienced ceiling cracks from water leaks, as well as black mold that she believes has only worsened her grandson’s asthma. 

“My grandson had an issue where he was sick every other week, and I’m sure it was due to this mold issue in the apartment because to inhale that — and my kids are all asthmatics, so that’s an issue as well,” she said. “So, to come here thinking that you’re going to live nice and now you have to live with these health concerns, that’s a major issue.”

Shade Lacayo has a faulty AC unit and said that when she contacts management about issues in her apartment, repairs are often delayed.

“It’s currently leaking right now,” said Lacayo. “It’s literally chipping the paint on the wall and everything.”

HPD records show the building has 84 open violations, ranging from pests to leaking pipes. Residents are calling on their landlord, Tahl Propp Equities, to drop eviction cases against residents who say they’ve withheld rent over unresolved repairs. They’ve also launched a tenant union.  

“I hope that there will be more people getting more treatment in their apartments,” said Maude Burke, who lives in the building. “I hope that there will be somebody — a security person outside the door. I hope that the laundry machines will get fixed, and I just hope that management will take responsibility for what they need to take responsibility for.”

PIX11 News reached out to Tahl Propp Equities. A spokesperson said the company continues to address maintenance requests involving the elevators, heating and cooling systems, the front door, and other building operations as they arise. They also said a new replacement lock for the front entrance will be installed Friday, and they cannot comment on specific eviction cases.