NEW YORK — Jose Polanco lives in one of the worst buildings in New York City. In his 18 years there, the apartment has had leaks, mold, roaches and rodents — sometimes all at once. Last winter, Polanco was stepping out of the shower when the bathroom ceiling collapsed.
NEW YORK — For years, 39 Pearl St. in Dumbo was the embodiment of Brooklyn’s bohemian renaissance. The rock band Sonic Youth got its start on the fifth floor, while the band Blue Öyster Cult used to rehearse downstairs.