Chinatown landlord dispute uncovered

A Chinatown landlord has agreed to make drastic repairs to his single-room occupancy building, after formerly evicted residents and the Chinatown Tenants Union protested the space’s conditions. A group of 30 fourth-floor residents at 81 Bowery Street had been ordered to leave their homes on Nov. 13 due to fire and safety violations. But while the Department of Buildings deemed the building safe three weeks ago, the Villager reports that the SRO units had no electricity and that common bathrooms were in disrepair. After meeting with demonstrators, including City Council member and mayoral candidate Tony Avella, outside his building, landlord Donald Lee relented last Friday.

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