Dried blood, drugs and filth: Inside the stairwells at the Mitchel Houses
News 12 has an exclusive look inside Mitchel Houses, where residents say stairwells have become unsafe and unsanitary.
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Residents at a Bronx NYCHA development say safety inside their building has spiraled out of control, putting families at risk.
News 12 has an exclusive look inside Mitchel Houses, where residents say stairwells have become unsafe and unsanitary. A man was found inside one stairwell getting dressed, a moment residents say reflects a larger issue they’ve been dealing with for months.
Several residents described people sleeping in stairwells overnight and leaving behind bedding, food, trash and drugs.
Residents also pointed to disturbing conditions inside the stairwells, including dried blood smeared on walls and floors and blood-stained needles. One resident said they’ve witnessed people injecting themselves with needles and dropping them on the floor.
Many residents say they avoid the stairwells altogether, only using them when elevators are not working, citing strong odors and debris that make it difficult to walk through.
While residents say cleaning crews do come through, they believe the cleanups are temporary and fail to address the root of the problem.
The concerns come months after the complex made headlines in October when a chimney collapse left residents without gas. Some residents say they are still dealing with unresolved issues, including gas outages and water problems, while new safety concerns continue to emerge.
NYCHA says staff monitors stairwell conditions daily and are working with law enforcement to address trespassing. NYCHA says residents should report concerns to 311 or NYPD.
