ROCHESTER N.Y. – Tenants of the apartment building at 447 Thurston Road say repairs have yet to be corrected. The city attesting, filed suit last week against Peter Hungerford and his Thurston Road Realty.

“We’re living like animals or something over here,” said tenant Mary Brown.

According to inspection and compliance services, the building in question has faced up to 70 violations. Court documents reveal those violations include missing smoke alarms and even rodent infestations.

“The plumbing is bad; I have raw sewage—the backing up and cording pipes, the mice, the mold,” said Brown, going through a list of issues the building has.

Other tenants living in the building have requested much needed repair, like Brown, for months.

The suit also states that during inspections, the building also has a series of health and safety violations, and on top of that, an outstanding unpaid balance of more than $24,000 to RG&E.

“I want to see all these changes come about,” said 73-year-old Marianna Caleo, a tenant of 21 years. She feels she will soon be forced to move out, so she is prepared to take legal action.

“Mary and I are planning a lawsuit against Peter Hungerford, for the living conditions that we are enduring right now,” said Caleo.

Hungerford released a statement to Spectrum News: 

Thurston Road Realty continues to fix and repair any and all violations the City assesses at the property.  For some reason, the City continues its punitive and aggressive stance against this building.  For example, on a single day in April, the City assessed 48 “New” violations on the property, despite having been in the property a dozen times since the 1st of the year.  Similarly, we have repaired nearly 100 violations on this property alone during the same period.  Why the City assessed one new violation for each violation it removes, is beyond me.  It seems likely they assessed dozens of violations so there would be cause for the petition to be filed.  Additionally, it does seem obvious there is an agenda, since the RG&E information is completely inaccurate, and we have offered to remediate all violations multiple times without cooperation from the City.  We have always and will continue to abate any violations assessed, regardless of whether or not the City and it’s Inspection Department treat us fairly.

The city gave Hungerford until April 30 to correct each violation or face legal action.

Brown says she is relieved the city is taking action because she says the living conditions haven’t gotten any better.

“I want to see it fixed up—livable, good living conditions, we deserve it,” she said.

Hungerford says the property is for sale, as a city court date is set for June 4.