Tenants in a Long Island apartment building say they have been living in conditions so horrible that some can’t even breathe in their own homes — choking on mold, dodging mutant “X-Men” bugs and enduring relentless water leaks.
Tina Shuford, president of the tenants’ union at 100 Terrace Ave. in Hempstead, said she hasn’t used her own kitchen in years and is forced to wear a mask and gloves in her apartment on doctor’s orders because of the mold, with her belongings stashed in storage bins to protect from “constant” leaks.
“Welcome to Hell,” said Shuford, who sued the building’s alleged “slum lord” then-owner, to The Post.
Tenant union President Tina Shuford says life at 100 Terrace Ave. in Hempstead, LI, is “hell.” Gregory P. Mango for NY PostShuford’s lawsuit — which has now switched to targeting the building’s new owner — claims the conditions are illegal under New York state law.
The building suffers massive amounts of visible black mold taking over apartments, regularly occurring pipe leaks, giant roaches and other bugs described as mutant “X-Men,” no heat or hot water in the winter, broken elevators that leave tenants trapped and a crumbling parking garage that has become virtually unusable, with used needles littered all over the outside of the apartments, the suit said.
Black mold is found inside the walls of Shuford’s apartment. Tina Shuford
Used needles litter the property. Tina Shuford
Shuford’s apartment is filled with puppy pads to soak the water from constant leaks while her belongings sit in storage bins year-round to protect them from water damage, she said. Tina ShufordIn June 2025, Shuford first filed suit against “slum lord” New York mega-developer Peter Florey, and his company, Terrace 100 LP, over the “uninhabitable” living conditions in the building, according to her lawsuit.
Florey never responded to the lawsuit or showed up for hearings, leading the judge to say the court was preparing to enter a default judgment against him, according to court documents.
The building was then sold to Hudson Valley Property Group, an affordable-housing firm, for roughly $107 million in December 2025, five months after the suit was filed, according to the property-deed transfer documents.
A sign inside the apartment complex is covered with roaches and other bugs that tenants likened to mutant “X-Men.” Tina ShufordFlorey did not respond to The Post’s request for comment before publication, but he and his company did later send a vociferious denial of the allegations Monday.
“The … allegations that there were adverse conditions at the building when it was sold in December 2025 are false,” they said in a statement.
“The D&F Development team invested over $14 million in improvements to the building and always prioritized maintenance and security for our residents. The building was inspected by US HUD just before it was sold and the building was determined to be in good condition.
“The characterization of the former owners as “slum lord” is completely false,” too, the statement said.
“Peter Florey and the D&F Development team have, for many years, been recognized in the industry and by elected officials as developers with integrity and owners of high-quality residences throughout Long Island.”
The group also denied not responding to Shuford’s claims in court.
The developer claimed Shuford blocked attempts to repair her unit.
He added that whenever needed repairs were brought to his attention, they were addressed in a timely manner.
Shuford said the sale of the building forced her to refile her suit against the new owners, who say they have nothing to do with the alleged sins of the past one.
The 420-unit complex has been known to be a hotbed of poverty, crime, drugs and violence for decades.
Shuford said she has been forced to plaster her own walls, fix her own pipes and patch her own ceiling using her own money to repair damage that her landlord was legally obligated to fix. Gregory P. Mango for NY PostAn agreement with the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency dating back to 2006 allowed it to collect tax breaks because it offered affordable housing, according to documents obtained by The Post.
HVPG, which has said it is planning roughly $23 million in renovations at about $55,000 per unit, has secured a fresh tax-break deal courtesy of Nassau County taxpayers, too.
Broken elevators in the building leave tenants trapped or force them to take the steps, the residents say. Tina Shuford“While we cannot comment on matters related to prior ownership or ongoing litigation, we are committed to ensuring the property is safe, accessible, and affordable for Long Island families for years to come,” a rep for HVPG told The Post.
“Since acquiring the property, we have begun a comprehensive evaluation of building-wide conditions and are advancing significant planned improvements focused on resident safety, comfort, and quality of life, including upgrades to individual units, shared spaces, and critical building systems.”
