We have an update this morning on the aftermath of the Grand Street fire. Last week, the residents of 289 Grand (also known as 91 Eldridge) received the bad news that their leases are being terminated. The landlord, Wong’s Grand Street Realty, has filed a “Notice to tear down the building.”
The legal document delivered to tenants read, “…the landlord, having no other option but to tear down the hazardous remaining remnants of the building, elects to end your lease…”
Since the devastating fire ravaged four buildings April 11th, affordable housing advocates have been trying to prevent the demolition of 289 Grand. Once a building is torn down, any rent stabilized or rent controlled units are permanently lost. Two other buildings, 283 and 285 Grand, have already been demolished.
On Friday, tenants met with elected officials and an advocacy organization, Asian Americans for Equality. They are expected to file papers in housing court this afternoon opposing the landlord’s decision. We’ll have more details later in the day.
The landlord can file the notice, but that doesn’t mean that the building will necessarily be torn down. Hopefully the tenants have someone reliable helping them who will fight to save the building and everyone’s tenancy.
Thanks for the comment. We’ll have more on this later today. Waiting to hear back from a few sources.