Neighbors launch a rescue for beloved co-op

These problems are a symptom of a much deeper crisis that has been caused by the agency that is charged with overseeing our welfare.”

BOB SCOTT, board member, Amalgamated

About 160 people convened in Vladeck Hall at 74 Van Cortlandt Park South Monday, the historic gathering place for residents of the Amalgamated Houses, to learn about the sub-standard state of their exposed gas pipelines and look for solutions.

Another 120 called in on Zoom, including state Sen. Robert Jackson and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.

Their mission?

To save the financially troubled co-op as it faces millions in repairs.

Members of the co-op’s board of directors took turns at the microphone, allowing some residents to speak briefly.

The audience cheered and booed alternately, and at least one speaker who attempted to offer legal advice was cut off when organizers unplugged the microphone on him.

The rescue mission that has sprung up at Amalgamated Houses now has a Facebook page called Amalgamated Cooperators United and is circulating a petition on Change.org with 597 signatures so far.

Notices from management in recent weeks warn of an impending fiscal cliff should the co-op be forced to shut off the gas in buildings that failed a plumber’s inspection last December. More than half of Amalgamated’s 11 residential buildings are affected, some of which were built in the 1920s.

Amalgamated is “a shining example” of what housing built by unions looks like, Dinowitz told the attendees from a Zoom monitor projected on a huge screen at the front of the room.

It’s “occupied by working people, middle class people. And we can’t afford to let that go,” he said.

Jackson also pledged his support, noting that he is looking into any capital allocations he may be able to make.

Amalgamated is among the oldest limited-equity co-ops in the country and predates the state’s Mitchell-Lama program.

“These problems are symptoms of a much deeper crisis that has been caused by the agency that is charged with overseeing our welfare, New York State Home and Community Renewal, better known as HCR,” said board member Bob Scott, referring to the state housing agency that provides subsidy loans for Amalgamated.

Most recently, the state agency approved a $6.65 million loan towards a $43.5 million capital project Amalgamated launched in 2017 to rehabilitate its buildings.

A spokesperson for HCR told The Riverdale Press the planned renovations included new boilers, roof replacement, façade and windowsill repairs, balcony replacement, repairs to fire escapes, new drainage systems, garage restoration, and asbestos and lead abatement.

Amalgamated also recently sought HCR’s approval to increase monthly carrying charges to help meet operating costs, but the process took a year and a half, Scott told the meeting attendees Monday night.

He also mentioned the co-op’s troubles with its neighbor, Park Reservoir, with whom Amalgamated shares management staff and apparently, provides debt service.

Scott said HCR “instructed Park Reservoir not to pay back the debts that are owed until it built up its own reserves.”

The Press couldn’t verify the information about the debt or the reserves before press time Tuesday.

Abigail Nehring is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms.