Squadron, Silver, Nadler, Chin Announce Energy Improvements at Gateway Plaza

Electeds, Community Continue Push for Added Energy Efficiency at Gateway

NEW YORK—Today, after advocacy efforts by Senator Daniel Squadron, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Congressmember Jerrold Nadler, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, Councilmember Margaret Chin, and the Gateway Plaza Tenants Association (GPTA),  Gateway Residential Management LLC announced plans to replace the remaining 3,100 individual packaged terminal air conditioners which provide cooling and heating to apartments at Gateway Plaza.  Gateway Residential Management has also pledged to upgrade the 1,700 electrical sub meters, used to measure tenant electricity use, which have not been replaced since the construction of the 33-year-old building. Gateway Plaza residents were forced to endure freezing conditions and sky-high electric bills this past winter.

At a town hall convened by Senator Squadron and the GPTA, Gateway Plaza residents complained that aging infrastructure was causing exorbitant and erroneous heating and cooling bills, highlighting the need for significant energy efficiency improvements.

“These energy upgrades are one step to bringing real relief to Gateway residents, in terms of comfort and dollars. Residents shouldn’t have to spend thousands of dollars on utility bills to have a little heat in the winter,” said Senator Squadron. “I'm so pleased that, after our town hall, our advocacy with the Tenants Association and my colleagues Speaker Silver, Congressmember Nadler, Borough President Brewer, and Councilmember Chin, has moved this forward.  I look forward to continuing to work with LeFrak and my elected partners to bring additional improvements to make Gateway Plaza more livable and affordable."

“The decision by the LeFrak Organization to replace heating/air conditioning units and electrical meters in all Gateway apartment units is an encouraging first step in our ongoing effort to improve living conditions for residents. I remain committed to ensuring that the windows at the complex are replaced, so that residents do not have to suffer through another long winter of freezing temperatures and sky high electric bills. I will continue working with my fellow elected officials and the Gateway Plaza Tenants Association to improve these conditions and to help address a wide range of quality-of-life issues for residents,” said Assembly Speaker Silver.

“I am pleased that LeFrak has been willing to work with Gateway Plaza and the elected officials representing the area to find a solution to the energy issues facing this building," said Congressmember Jerry Nadler. “Thank you to everyone involved for their hard work.”

“I am very happy to hear that LeFrak is doing the right thing and beginning to address exorbitant electric bills at Gateway Plaza by replacing the air conditioning and heating units. I want to also thank Senator Squadron and Speaker Silver for their leadership on this issue. We are committed to working with our elected colleagues and the Gateway Tenant Association to address the high electric bills,” said Councilmember Margaret Chin.

“We’re immensely grateful to Senator Squadron, Speaker Silver, BPCA Chairman Mehiel, and Council Member Margaret Chin for their passionate effort to procure new PTACS and electric meters for the entire Gateway complex,” said Gateway Plaza Tenants Association President Glenn Plaskin. “Our nearly 4,000 tenants will benefit greatly from these improvements, the result of an effort that began more than a year ago when Senator Squadron hosted the GPTA Energy Forum. Our hope is that ongoing talks will result in added improvements for the Gateway complex, believing as we do that principled negotiation with all parties should be the most effective way to accomplish our goals.”

Installation at Gateway Plaza, a 1,700-unit apartment complex in Battery Park City, is expected to begin in June, and will require approximately 16 weeks to complete.