By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
INWOOD — The landlord of an Inwood building that went up in flames in December, killing two family pets and leaving dozens homeless over the holiday season, has finally begun to make repairs.
Although residents and city officials are still angry over how slow-going the repair process has been, a representative from City Councilman Robert Jackson's office said landlord Hakim Azizi has addressed multiple areas of concern since the building's residents formed a tenant association in March.
"We're deeply concerned for our neighbors and friends and all that they've endured at 510 West 218th Street since December's devastating fire," wrote Jackson spokesman Martin Collins. "It's been very difficult and we're extremely sympathetic and understanding to everyone's concerns."
According to Collins, the landlord has addressed multiple areas of concern since residents formed a tenant association in March, including improving security in the building by fixing the building's intercom system and front door lock and enrolling in a citywide security program with the district attorney's office.
Azizi is also in the process of completely renovating two of the most severely damaged apartments and is working with the Department of Buildings to get the permits necessary to bring the building's gas service up to code.
This month, the Health Department also baited the area for rats after complaints about chronic vermin infestation, according to the department.
The building currently has 197 violations, according to the Department of Housing and Preservation.
Complaints about slow going work in the building grew to a fever pitch recently with calls for the super of the building to be fired. Tenants said that despite the completion of some repairs, they are still frustrated by how long it takes the landlord to get work done and spoke of a strained relationship with him.
Azizi did not respond to requests for comment.
Despite the recent repairs, John Galvin, the Tenant Association's president, said the group still plans to move forward with its petition to remove its superintendent from the building, which their landlord has refused to do.
"The super continues to make himself unavailable to most of the residents' needs and does not even mop or clean the building," Galvin said.
