Sharon G.
Argo Real Estate
On November 5th, 2021, a fire broke out in an Argo building. In my opinion, the events that followed and delays in repairs were contributing factors in my sister's premature death. The source of the fire was an oven/stove that was likely decades old and was in a neighbor's 3rd floor apartment. On at least two other occasions I personally witnessed, such ovens had spontaneously turned on to the highest heat, their hardwired plugs making them impossible to disconnect without professional assistance. The tenant in question had a hoarding disorder, and whether her oven, like the two others, turned on spontaneously, or whether an accidental nudge against the stove lit the stacks of paper on it, I do not know. What I do know, and what photographs show, is that firefighters didn't need to break the door in; photos show it swung open and undamaged. Whether she forgot to close it, or if like some other doors in the building it didn't latch properly, a violation of the NYC law regarding self-closing doors, I don't know. The heat of the fire triggered the sprinklers. Neighbors described the sound of the water as it ran through the elevator shaft as, "like a waterfall" and water soaked the walls down to the first floor. Mold developed. Despite the whirring of a couple of Servpro machines, the stench of it caught the back of my throat whenever I entered the building. Argo did not assist in the clear-out of the apt filled with moldering material, leaving that task to the tenant, despite visible mold growth in the hallway. The elevator would be out for months - so climbing up the indoor fire-stairs through moldy air was the only option, but pausing for breath never was. I was there the days that loads of moldy belongings were shifted into the hall, the day workers visibly struggled with the task of removing it all, all of us choking in the stairwell. Argo responded to this crisis by waiting for an insurance claim to be processed and a new part for the elevator to be delivered. The delay seemed both specious and indefensible to me. While there may not have been funds to issue urgency in repair, there was plenty of money to go about for decorative renovations - decorative arches, new stone flooring, gaudy "trendy" lighting fixtures, thousands upon thousands of dollars spent on cosmetic finishes rather than critical repairs. Three tenants were suing Argo because of this situation. One, a subletter, was forced out as the co-op board voted (coincidence I'm sure) that the length of time a shareholder could sublet their apt was exactly how long the plaintiff had lived there. So she lost her standing to sue. The second left shortly after reporting to neighbors that she had received a surprise evening visit from an Argo representative brandishing eviction paperwork. The third person died. She lived on the 9th floor, with a known history of health and respiratory issues. Two months after the fire, work not yet even started on the elevator, two months of trying to go about her daily life, walking her dogs, her life ended in a heart attack. She was my sister. I was with her as she collapsed. I heard the sirens within moments of calling 911, but it took what seemed an eternity for the first responders to climb to the 9th floor with their heavy gear. The day before she died, she climbed nearly thirty flights of steps, texted that it felt like "needles were going into her eyes" as she walked through the mold. There is no doubt in my mind that the extreme exertion along with poor air quality were factors in her death, an opinion shared by several attorneys who reluctantly informed me of NYS's antiquated wrongful death laws which only allow for financial damages. The loss of a life means nothing besides that. I think one member of Argo's staff may have some spark of conscience, as she emailed me, "I apologize for your sister's death". Ask any child what the difference is between "I'm sorry for..." and "I apologize for..." Champagne for all - someone at Argo has something akin to a soul - and of course the building has its dearly needed, god-awful renovations.