Building Violations Force Tenants To Vacate Upscale Bedford Lofts
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Dozens of people paying to live in an upscale Brooklyn building were forced to leave their homes after unsafe living conditions were found on the premises.
According to the Department of Buildings, 3,000 square feet of structural framing in the Bedford Lofts was not built to code, and concrete floors were poured without permits.
Last Tuesday, around 50 residents were told they had an hour to grab their belongings and vacate their apartment. They've had difficulty getting back into the building since, CBS2's Meg Baker reported.
Willamsburg residents pay around $5,000 a month to live in the upscale building at 120 South 4th Street.
Resident Melissa Yamamoto said living in the building has been a disaster from the start.
"Five months we had no walls," Yamamoto said. "When putting up walls, construction workers In our apartment every weekend."
Amar Moti is supposed to move out of the building on January 1st. Both Moti and Yamamoto have already pre-paid their December rent.
"For two years, the building was structurally unsound and we were living in there like nothing was wrong," Moti said. "And now one month before our lease is up suddenly we cant go inside."
Residents said they were told they would be allowed back in the building if escorted by the NYPD -- but so far, they have not been allowed to access the building.
"I'd like access to my things, its been impossible reaching Department of Buildings," Yamamoto said. "The 90th Precinct has been extremely unhelpful with escorting us into building."
Another resident, who preferred to stay anonymous, said this has been a stress on her mentally and financially.
"We're staying at an Airbnb right now," she said. "Which is horrible."
According to residents, Garden Management, who owns the property, has changed their name several times over the last two years. CBS2 tried to reach out to the company for comment, but they did not immediately return their calls or emails.