Expert reports
Dangerous Air in 333 East 14th St
Click here for the history of the problem and Jordan Cooper's response, including advising us to "open windows" in January 2020.
In Feb. 2025 -- more than a year ago -- multiple Board members visited our apartment and described the smell as "next level," "commercial," "foul," and like we "live on top of a fast food restaurant."
We still waited a year for a fix before filing in Housing Court in 2026. You can read the filings here.
We've paid thousands of dollars for a mechanical engineers and environmental assessments out of our own pocket.
We live with our windows open.
Last summer, that meant no AC.
This past winter we wore hats and sweaters to bed and ran space heaters with windows open.
Click here for videos documenting our experience and a log of impact on apartment habitability.
FAQ
It's NYC. The air is dirty, right?
No. Except for the odd wildfire or summertime ozone issue, NYC has suprisingly safe air. And the Congestion Zone Toll has actually led to a decrease in air pollution.
Isn't this just a one apartment problem?
No. We've documented air blowing into C line homes through the electrical outlets that connect with B and D lines.
Air is sucking through the B line outlets - into A line apartments -- so strongly it holds up tissue paper.
Vents in various bathrooms are blowing into apartments.
We live in an apartment. Shouldn't we expect to smell our neighbors?
No. Under the NYC Building Code, apartments should be positively pressurized, which prevents air from coming in from other units.
When air flows from other apartments into yours, it brings smoke, soot, and combustion gases. It can also carry illnesses and germs from your neighbors.
These are not new laws -- they actually date back to the Tenement Laws of the 1800s.
Wait, I'm experiencing smells or smoke or a broken vent too.
What should I do?
You should definitely report this to the Board, Super, and Management Company first.
If you have already reported this and it has not been fixed, you should reach out to 311.
If you contact 311 and share your service number with us, we will get it grouped with ours.