July 31, 2026 NEW YORK, NY Imagine turning on your shower every single morning, knowing there is a terrifying chance the water vapor carrying through your bathroom could land you in the hospital—or worse. For more than two months, that has been the harsh, terrifying reality for families living at the Haven Plaza apartment development in the East Village.

On Thursday, anger finally boiled over into the streets. Frustrated tenants, community leaders, and local elected officials gathered to demand immediate action, calling out property management for an alleged pattern of sweeping a deadly health crisis under the rug.

Two Months of Silence and Fear

While headlines across New York City have heavily focused on this summer’s aggressive Legionnaires' disease cluster on the Upper East Side—which has recorded 92 positive tests, six hospitalizations, and six deaths—families at Haven Plaza feel like they are fighting an invisible war in total isolation.

The building's water system tested positive for Legionella, the bacteria responsible for the potentially lethal disease, over 60 days ago. Yet, residents claim that property leadership from Wavecrest Management and Catholic Homes has offered virtually nothing in terms of safety guarantees, clear communication, or basic necessities.

Dana Cruz, President of the Haven Plaza Tenant Association, didn't hold back during Thursday's press conference, laying bare the daily struggles of the community.

"Wavecrest and Catholic Homes continue to refuse our requests for mobile showers, filters, medical monitoring, drinking water, and rent relief," Cruz stated. "This is all happening even as our water is shut off at times for ten hours in a day with little to no warning. We have been forced to buy our own supplies throughout this entire process."

A Survivor's Nightmare

For many in the complex, the fear is deeply personal. The property has already seen two confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease within the past year.

Felix Sicardo, an 18-year resident of the community, was the first confirmed case on the property nearly a year ago. The ordeal nearly cost him his life.

"It was horrible: I was short of breath, I was very weak," Sicardo recalled. "I waited too long to go to the hospital, so I was very weak. I actually fell and I could not get up. So, I called the management office to let them know that I was very sick [and] I had collapsed."

Despite such severe historical warnings, tenants say notices in common areas have been missing and emails to management have gone completely unanswered. The breakdown in communication has pushed residents to extreme measures.

Longtime resident Kristin Ankuta, who frequently hosts her sister Nicole Barbara—a wheelchair user requiring specialized accommodations—grew so desperate for answers regarding the contamination that she took matters into her own hands. After being ghosted by management, Ankuta withheld her rent to force a conversation.

"I showed up at court yesterday morning with my sister and I said, 'Here’s all the rent that I owe you. Now you tell me what’s going on,'" Ankuta said.

Pointing Fingers at the Top

Manhattan Council Member Harvey Epstein slammed the lack of transparency, emphasizing that affordable housing residents in the East Village deserve the exact same urgency and standard of care as anyone else in the city.

"This is not helpful for residents," Epstein said at the rally. "They need clear information about what’s happening, a timeline to get it fixed and a process to make that happen. The tenants here are frustrated, and they’re feeling like their health is at risk."

While the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) maintained that they have been actively engaging with residents since May—citing three resident meetings, two tabling events, and a recent visit from Commissioner Martin—tenants argue the city's oversight has come too little, too late.

Management Responds

Following the backlash, Wavecrest Management and Catholic Homes issued a joint statement defending their timeline.

"The Haven Plaza management team began executing its remediation program for Legionella this week after receiving approval from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene," the statement read, adding that a full water treatment and disinfection plan is now underway.

Management also noted that testing was legally triggered following two confirmed cases within a one-year window, maintaining that they remain "fully committed to the health and safety of the residents."

As the cleanup finally begins, the psychological toll on Haven Plaza remains heavy. For a community forced to buy their own drinking water and dread their daily showers, trust has been broken—and restoring the water flow will take a lot more than a simple corporate statement.

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