They’re getting screwed again.
Residents of the 75-unit Bronx building whose fire escapes were mistakenly removed by construction workers say they’re getting a paltry sum to find alternate accommodations — and the options aren’t necessarily appealing.
“This is not for a hotel,” said one 32-year-old resident of the $120 per night she is being offered by the building’s owner, Goldfarb Properties. “The money that they’re giving is for hotels for people living in the streets.”
Another resident of the University Heights building said it looks like the building’s owner “expects you to come up with money from out-of-pocket.”
“And what if you don’t have it?” the 47-year-old woman said.
The struggle of 2400 Webb Ave.’s nearly 200 residents began Monday when officials from the FDNY, Buildings Department and Office of Emergency Management told them they had 48 hours to find temporary digs elsewhere.
They were forced out after hardhats doing facade repairs on the building foolishly removed all of the fire escapes — deeming the place a firetrap.
After the workers’ blunder, all that remained of the fire escapes were hollowed-out steel frames bolted to the front of the building.
Outside the building today, evacuated residents say $120 is not enough to get a decent hotel room. What’s worse, they charge, is that even if they had more cash, the options around them are too shabby.
“I don’t feel safe in those hotels. It’s not enough money” said the 32-year-old resident, who got a list of hotels from Goldfarb, though none seemed equivalent to her living standards at 2400 Webb Ave.
Inspectors with the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development tipped off FDNY brass to the snafu, officials said. The inspectors had visited the building Saturday because the owner had filed a dismissal request for 23 previous unrelated violations, officials said.
Colgate Restoration — whose workers ripped the fire escape out — and Goldfarb are yet to comment.