What you should know
- Tenants of a Bronx building have filed a lawsuit against their owners and several city apartments for claiming they are still living in “dangerous” conditions weeks after a partial collapse that left many homeless.
- The Dec. 11 collapse toppled a section of the building in the Morris Heights section and left a pile of debris on the street. There were only minor injuries and no one was trapped in the rubble.
- A video from the end of the block showed the moment when several people were walking on the sidewalk under the scaffolding and suddenly parts of the building collapsed, as did the sidewalk shed. People ran for safety as debris fell.
NEW YORK — Tenants of a Bronx building have filed a lawsuit against their owners and several city apartments for claiming they are still living in “dangerous” conditions weeks after a partial collapse that left many homeless.
The Dec. 11 collapse toppled a section of the building in the Morris Heights section and left a pile of debris on the street. There were only minor injuries and no one was trapped in the rubble.
A video from the end of the block showed the moment when several people were walking on the sidewalk under the scaffolding and suddenly parts of the building collapsed, as did the sidewalk shed. People ran for safety as debris fell.
Some of the debris in 1915 Billinglsey Terrace They were up to 12 feet high at some points.
Department of Buildings records show the structure has nearly 50 apartments. Nearly 140 people were displaced, including 31 children, as a result of the collapse. The neighbors ran out with their clothes on and nothing else.
More than two dozen tenants of the building are now suing in an effort to speed up repairs and rebuild the collapsed portion of the six-story building.
The lawsuit alleges that the landlords “engaged in blatantly illegal behavior that has harassed and endangered tenants by forcing them to sign agreements stipulating that the conditions of their apartments were fully repaired, despite the deplorable conditions, in exchange for receive the keys to their apartments.
The tenants blame the landlords for not providing enough security, claiming that “looters” managed to enter some of their apartments and steal their personal belongings before the tenants could return to their homes.
Their lawsuit also alleges “deplorable” living conditions inside the building, including an infestation of insects and rodents, as well as a complete lack of gas in the building.
“Our clients and all tenants of 1915 Billingsley they have suffered greatly at the hands of their owner; However, their difficulties did not begin when the building partially collapsed, but years earlier when the building’s unsafe conditions worsened,” said Zoe Kheyman, a staff attorney in Legal Aid’s Civil Practice.
“Landlords must make immediate repairs so the City can lift the partial eviction order and tenants can return to their homes. While the work is being done, the owner and the city must ensure that families who have been allowed to return are not exposed to lead dust, mold and other toxins.”
2024-02-05 22:00:22
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