Still-displaced tenants rally two years after fire ravages apartment building

Two years ago, a fire left several Sunset Park tenants and their families displaced. Today, they are still waiting to return home.

News 12 Staff

Jan 30, 2020, 12:49 AM

Updated 1,554 days ago

Share:

Two years ago, a fire left several Sunset Park tenants and their families displaced. Today, they are still waiting to return home.
On Wednesday, tenants rallied outside of housing court to demand repairs be made to their still-damaged living spaces. The families say the landlord signed an agreement to have the repairs done by August 2019, and are asking a judge to hold the landlord in contempt.
Zulma Cruz lived in her apartment at 529 56th St. in Sunset Park for nearly 4 decades -- until a fire in January 2018 left her, seven other tenants, and their families without a place to live.
Now, the families are living in temporary housing across the boroughs. Some live as far away as Staten Island as they wait to move back into their apartments.
"It's a financial setback, I can't have visitors, I don't see my family, everybody's spread out," Cruz says. "We don't fit in one bedroom; it's more commute to my job."
 


More from News 12
2:22
FDNY: 6 firefighters, 1 civilian injured at massive Bushwick fire

FDNY: 6 firefighters, 1 civilian injured at massive Bushwick fire

1:27
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

2:15
Hazy and hot weather arrives Thursday before a weekend cooldown

Hazy and hot weather arrives Thursday before a weekend cooldown

1:51
RFK announces he has enough signatures to appear on NY ballot

RFK announces he has enough signatures to appear on NY ballot

1:46
Tenants weigh in on possible rent hikes for rent-stabilized homes

Tenants weigh in on possible rent hikes for rent-stabilized homes

1:38
Parks Department held community input meetings over new construction of skate parks

Parks Department held community input meetings over new construction of skate parks

1:27
Power restored in Manhattan Beach following 18-wheeler truck crash

Power restored in Manhattan Beach following 18-wheeler truck crash

0:34
FBI arrests Brooklyn man in Mount Vernon robbery, homicide

FBI arrests Brooklyn man in Mount Vernon robbery, homicide

1:53
Elected officials call on mayor to bring Staten Island ferry back to former Bay Ridge Pier

Elected officials call on mayor to bring Staten Island ferry back to former Bay Ridge Pier

0:31
Authorities arrest 31-year-old man in connection to fatal Williamsburg crash

Authorities arrest 31-year-old man in connection to fatal Williamsburg crash

2:19
Rent hikes may be coming for tenants in rent-stabilized apartments

Rent hikes may be coming for tenants in rent-stabilized apartments

1:54
Funeral held for DJ Mister Cee in Downtown Brooklyn

Funeral held for DJ Mister Cee in Downtown Brooklyn

1:48
Mayor's administration awards $12.3 million emergency contract to run migrant shelter in Brooklyn

Mayor's administration awards $12.3 million emergency contract to run migrant shelter in Brooklyn

1:51
Brooklyn animal shelter hopes to find pets forever homes on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

Brooklyn animal shelter hopes to find pets forever homes on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

0:23
Brooklyn man arrested, charged with forgery and larceny in Connecticut

Brooklyn man arrested, charged with forgery and larceny in Connecticut

2:32
Transportation Alternatives: 2024 was the deadliest start to a year since start of Vision Zero

Transportation Alternatives: 2024 was the deadliest start to a year since start of Vision Zero

2:12
Power restored to most residents in Brooklyn following semi-truck crash; driver still on the loose

Power restored to most residents in Brooklyn following semi-truck crash; driver still on the loose

0:23
NYPD: 15-year-old shot in the stomach overnight in Bed-Stuy

NYPD: 15-year-old shot in the stomach overnight in Bed-Stuy

1:40
Check out how cyclists are preparing for the upcoming Five Boro Bike Tour

Check out how cyclists are preparing for the upcoming Five Boro Bike Tour

0:28
New NYC Public Schools course will teach students about the impacts of hate crimes

New NYC Public Schools course will teach students about the impacts of hate crimes