Residents of Park Hill Apartments Left Without Heat During Frigid Winter

Families, including young children, struggle to stay warm as boiler repairs drag on

Jan. 31, 2026 at 10:31am

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Residents of the Park Hill Apartments in Staten Island, New York have been left without heat for the past three days as temperatures have plummeted into the single digits. A 30-year-old single mother with two young daughters, ages 7 and 8, says her family is freezing, with her daughters crying all day. Neighbors, including a 63-year-old Spanish-speaking resident, are also affected, with some looking to find shelter elsewhere due to the cold. Maintenance has acknowledged the boiler is being repaired but could not provide a timeline for when heat will be restored.

Why it matters

The lack of heat in the Park Hill Apartments highlights the ongoing issues with the aging, federally-subsidized housing complex, which has a history of neglect and inadequate living conditions. While new ownership has promised a $165 million renovation, the current plight of residents, especially vulnerable populations like young children, underscores the urgent need for improvements to ensure safe and livable conditions.

The details

For the past three days, a 30-year-old resident of 240 Park Hill, who pays $1600 per month for her rat-infested apartment with broken appliances, has been living without heat along with her two young daughters. The single mother says she has repeatedly called maintenance, who have told her the boiler for the building is being repaired. She reports that her neighbors are also without heat, and she has been looking for a homeless shelter for her 63-year-old Spanish-speaking neighbor and her dogs because they are so cold.

  • On January 29, 2026, temperatures in Staten Island plummeted into the single digits.
  • For the past three days, residents of Park Hill Apartments have been without heat.

The players

Park Hill Apartments

A federally-subsidized housing complex in Staten Island, New York that has a history of neglect and inadequate living conditions.

Arker Companies

The new ownership group that recently acquired the Park Hill Apartments and plans to perform a $165 million renovation over the next two years.

Michael Shah

The previous owner of the Park Hill Apartments, who is the founder and CEO of DelShah Capital.

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What they’re saying

“This situation is inhumane, especially with children involved, and it feels like no one is listening.”

— 30-year-old resident (silive.com)

“I'm telling them [maintenance] we are freezing; my daughters are crying all day. We have three pairs of socks on, and we have thermals under pajamas and we have jackets on inside the house because it's freezing here. I have been boiling hot water so the house can be warm, and still it's not working. It feels like five degrees or six degrees in here.”

— 30-year-old resident (silive.com)

What’s next

The new ownership group, Arker Companies, has promised a $165 million renovation of the Park Hill Apartments over the next two years, which is expected to include boiler replacements and other improvements to address the long-standing issues with the complex.

The takeaway

The lack of heat at the Park Hill Apartments during the coldest days of the year underscores the urgent need for the promised renovations by the new ownership group. Vulnerable residents, including young children, should not have to endure such inhumane living conditions, and this situation highlights the broader challenges facing aging, federally-subsidized housing complexes across the country.