Tenants in long‑troubled Pinnacle buildings are ramping pressure on city officials after a judge rejected the Mamdani administration’s attempt to pause the sale of thousands of rent controlled units.

The city had moved to intervene because of what it called unsafe and deteriorating living conditions.

During a Jan. 1 first press conference, Mayor Zohran Mamdani referenced thousands of violations inside of Pinnacle buildings across the city, and called out the buyer Summit for placing high on the city's worst landlords list. He said the city has an interest in protecting the property and tenants inside.

Residents at 470 Ocean Ave. say they are outraged by the ruling. Many lived without heat and hot water for months, with service restored only two days ago. They say the city’s effort to pause the sale from the Pinnacle Group to new landlord Summit gave them hope that better conditions and ownership would be possible.

Across several boroughs, tenants unfurled banners calling out what they describe as years of neglect. They point to dozens of new violations, including 50 issued at 470 Ocean Ave. this week alone. Many say the judge’s decision felt like a setback, especially after Mayor Mamdani pledged on his first day in office to improve conditions in these buildings.

“It felt like it killed the momentum, but we are not going to let this stop us,” one tenant said. “These buildings were not in disrepair because of rent control. They were in disrepair because of a lack of maintenance and a lack of care.”

In a statement to News 12, Summit said it is committed to making repairs and keeping the housing stock affordable. Tenants say they have heard similar promises before. They want to see real improvements before they believe any new assurances.

"We need the next landlord regardless of who it is, to take conditions here seriously," said Anthony Scelza, an eight-year tenant.

It's a sentiment shared by Pinnacle tenants in The Bronx.

"They had a clear and intentional strategy to buy out rent stabilized buildings. To neglect those buildings, to allow them to fall into disrepair in an attempt to destabilize those units," said Pinnacle Tenant Union organizer Emma Rehac.

Residents are now calling on the Mamdani administration to continue applying pressure. In a statement to News 12 the mayor’s office said that "this is not the end of our fight to protect Pinnacle tenants and working New Yorkers across the city." It added that they are looking into additional legal options at the city's disposal.