Coming Home Again

The tenants of 202 Franklin Street return home, five years after the fire

Until Thursday afternoon, the site of 202 Franklin Street stood as a symbol of struggle, disappointment and injustice in the neighborhood. Five years ago, a fire drove the tenants from their homes, and what was expected to be a short-term relocation turned into a five-year fight to move back in the face of rampant opposition from a series of landlords, as the building changed hands over and over again. After countless protests and sit-ins, meetings and court proceedings, tenants, community members and neighborhood activists gathered once more outside of 202 Franklin Street—but this time, in celebration: The tenants—four families—are finally moving back into their apartments, right here in Greenpoint, where they belong.

“This fight has been a long one,” said Benjamin Robles, a spokesperson for United Neighbors Organization (UNO). “One’s home is his castle, especially when you have to fight for it. The fire drove them out, but their will and tenacity brought them back.”

After the fire broke out in 2002, prompting the city to issue a vacate order requiring the tenants to temporarily relocate until the necessary repairs were made. However, after the tenants moved out of the building, the landlord avoided completing the repairs, thus preventing the tenants from being able to move back into their apartments. Subsequently, the building was sold—twice—and because they refused to take a buyout, an offer from the landlord to permanently move out of their units, the tenants were forced to take legal action, with the help of St. Nick’s, North Brooklyn Development Corporation and Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A, who represented the tenants in housing court.

“It seems like yesterday, but it has been five years since we stood and protested what was an injustice,” said Assemblyman Joe Lentol, who has been an avid advocate of the tenants in their struggle. “But there are people here in Greenpoint and Williamsburg who are your friends, and we will stand by you in times of need. Times aren’t going to get easier, in fact they will get harder, but with folks like this by your side, we won’t give up the struggle.”

Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A lawyer Joanne Koslofski, who has represented the tenants for the past several years, was also in attendance, and expressed her pride and relief at the victory, and reminisced about the difficult fight that spanned half a decade.

“Did I have my doubts? I certainly did,” Koslofski said. “There were dark moments, but the tenants always kept me going. They stood together across cultural differences and language barriers and refused to give up…we had multiple hearings in housing court, a ten month proceeding and the city was on our side. The building was sold twice. Finally, the city initiated an HP action and became our co-litigants. We put pressure on them until they finally caved. And now we’ve won.”