AUDIO TRANSCRIPT: The fight between tenants and owners of Nob Hill continues in Syracuse City Courtrooms.
Nob Hill Tennants Association fights against horrible living conditions. Kona Mahu on the start of the association.
” It started in August of 2024 when I’m walking outside looking around at the garbage and realizing that the grass is almost up to my hips and coming to the realization that there was a real problem here.”
Some complaints from tennants about mold have lasted for months with no fixes made. worsened conditions have led to the City of Syracuse having to appoint someone to manage the funds.
” I think that we are seeing change over twenty family units filed 7-d’s and they had their rent rebated for up until June of this year with still four of us that are waiting to find out!”
There is a hearing at the Syracuse courthouse tonight.
Ford Anderson…, N-C-C News.
Syracuse, N.Y (NCC News) – Tenants from the Nob Hill apartment complex have taken their fight to a Syracuse courtroom after years of trying to get the owners to fix multiple issues in their apartments that created unlivable living conditions.
Kona Mahu is a tenant of Nob Hill who created the organization to give tenants an opportunity to use their voice to spark changes.
“It started in August of 2024 when I’m walking outside around the garage and realizing that the grass is almost up to my hips and realizing that there was a real problem here, Mahu said.”
Some tenants complained about mold in their rooms with no fixes made months later. The City of Syracuse filed a lawsuit against the owners of Nob Hill in April due to more than unfixed code violations.
The lender, Fannie Mae filed for foreclosure against the owners of Nob Hill after they failed to repay her more than $50 million, according to CNYCentral. Since the owners did not pay their mortgage on Nob Hill, the city of Syracuse appointed someone to collect rent money, pay mortgage, and maintain the property.
Kona Mahu says she is optimistic about the new plan the city has instituted to help the tenants of Nob Hill.
“I spoke with management yesterday about the receiver, their role, and the changes they are making which is to take care of outstanding problems before we bring any new people in, Mahu said.”
The problems have become so bad that Mayor Sharon Owens stepped in to hold a press conference bashing the owners of the largest apartment complex in Syracuse, according to CNYCentral.
“300-400 family units that if this place does not get taken care of, they would be displaced, and where are they going to go… We do not have this kind of housing in Syracuse, so this is a huge community concern, Mahu said.”
A fire killed two tenants in the complex in February and displaced more than 50 tenants, according to Syracuse.com.
Tenants could not return to the building where the fire happened. They also have no answer about a timeframe for when they can grab their belongings.
Syracuse City Court Judge Shadia Tadros gave the owners a decision. The landlords can either allow tenants into the building to move out their belongings, or the court will fine the owners $500 per tenant per week, according to the order.
The tenants’ fight for justice is far from over despite the small victories because there are so many different code violations that are in the lawsuit.