Residents leasing property underneath the Hell Gate Bridge will not have to deal with a mammoth rent increase, after all. NY1's Lyndsay Christian explains.

For 60 years, the Paratore brothers, Anthony and Michael, have lived in their Astoria home tucked underneath the Hell Gate Bridge.

"I've lived here 60 years and the rent hasn't changed," Anthony Paratore said.

During that time, they've also leased the property next to it on 23rd Street, which is owned by Amtrak, for a nominal fee of $25 a year.

But, earlier this year, the railroad company notified homeowners it was looking to raise the rent to $25,000 a year, and for some residents, up to $40,000. 

"We essentially have to pay for the upkeep of it and they were going to charge us, ya know, a crazy amount of rent to that and it was just wrong," Anthony said.

"We naturally felt that that was ridiculous," Michael Paratore said.

​The Paratores and five other homeowners reached out to elected officials for help, and it worked.

On Monday, Amtrak sent a letter to the homeowners noting it is "temporarily halting any further actions or negotiations regarding your lease" and their current "lease will remain in full force and effect."

It's news that called for a celebration in front of the Paratore's home.

Residents say they're grateful to the elected officials who pressed Amtrak to pump the brakes on the rent hike.

"That's why it was so important,  immediately to these homeowners, but to the entire community, because they maintain these properties, they beautify them, and it's a little bit of green space in respects of the green desert in respects to this part of Queens," Rep. Joe Crowley (D - Queens, Bronx) said.

"You really can't pick on the little people, you have to go after the people making money off the property," Anthony said.

Some residents use the property for commercial purposes - like renting out parking spaces - and Amtrak says it will notify them of rates equivalent to commercial fair market value.

"It should be equitable for the people who maintain the property for Amtrak," Michael said.

For now, the Paratores say they're glad they can continue enjoying their green space for $25 per year.