Residents of 73 Monroe St., located near the Manhattan Bridge, were allowed to briefly return to their apartments yesterday. It was their first time back inside the tenement since a fire broke out Sunday, May 31.
The Department of Buildings placed a “full vacate order” on the property the day after the fire. The fire department requested a structural stability inspection, citing “shaking and vibrating.” Buildings Department documents also noted “illegal occupancy throughout” the property.
According to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), seven households registered with the agency for emergency services. 18 adults and 10 children are staying in HPD temporary housing. The occupants of one apartment chose to make their own arrangements. A total of 35 people were displaced.
We’re told by the office of City Council member Margaret Chin that some of the tenants were permitted inside yesterday to retrieve documents necessary to prove their residency. Many of them fled soon after the fire was detected a week ago Sunday afternoon in a second floor apartment. A local organization, Asian Americans for Equality, is providing Chinese translation services in three dialects.
New Roemon LLC/Martin Leung of Flushing is listed as the owner of the building.
