Mayor Zohran Mamdani named Dina Levy as commissioner of the NYC Department of Housing and Preservation on Jan. 4.

The announcement showcased the affordable housing building at 1520 Sedgwick Ave., otherwise known as the birthplace of hip-hop.

According to city data, the apartment building currently stands with 194 HPD violations. 88 of those violations are categorized as "C-Class", deeming them "immediately hazardous."

Levy has decades-old roots to the building. Back in 2011, the nonprofit "Workforce Housing Group" bought the building during its exit from Mitchell-Llama. Levy facilitated the sale.

Andre Simmons, a DJ and 30-year resident of the building, said the building went downhill after it changed ownership.

"I take care of my mom, and she's disabled, and we haven't had a stove in, like, six years. Heat that never turns on, elevators that are always out of order, between that and the rodents and everything... it's been hard," said Simmons.

News 12 spoke with longtime housing advocate, Kenny Burgos, about the quality decline.

"This is where the city government has to recognize the equation here in the math problem, and where they can be impactful is actually reduce the costs to run this housing so that the struggle of running housing isn't put on the backs of tenants through increased rents," said Burgos.

Tenants who saw the building's survival through decades of decay said they want the city to step in.

"We need a lot of help. We need every penny we can get to keep this building going," said Geraldine Davis, a tenant of 50 years.

Burgos said what the city does next is crucial.

"When rent stabilization covers 1 million apartments across the city, it is not an understatement to say that it is critically important that we get this right.

News 12 reached out to City Hall for a statement but has not heard back yet.

John Crotty, senior vice president of "Workforce Housing Group" sent the following statement:

"Workforce Housing took over 1520 Sedgwick after decades of neglect and mismanagement. We have work diligently to improve the building and cure HPD violations. After four years of asking, the Adam’s administration finally approved $9 million for an extensive rehabilitation project which is ongoing. We work collectively and collaboratively with our residents and are proud that 1520 remains an affordable community for The Bronx.”