Eighteen months after a fire in a Queens apartment building, many displaced tenants remain without homes, prompting lawmakers to propose new legislation to address landlord accountability. The fire, caused by illegal construction work, displaced around 250 residents and highlighted a significant issue with delays in repairs across New York City. The situation has intensified scrutiny on landlords like A&E Real Estate, while tenants struggle with the emotional and financial impact of finding alternative housing, especially those who previously lived in rent-stabilized units.
The fire ignited just before noon on Dec. 20, 2023, at 43-09 47th Ave. in Sunnyside, as residents prepared for the holiday season.
What unfolded in Sunnyside has become a symbol of a broader crisis. Across the five boroughs, tenants displaced by fires often wait months - or even years - to return home.
Lauren Koenig, who had lived there for 13 years and paid $2,650 in monthly rent for her stabilized unit.
For Koenig, reentering the housing market after more than a decade in a regulated apartment has been financially and emotionally overwhelming.
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