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Posted by Jack on July 20, 2001 at 07:32:17:

new york times today:

July 20, 2001

Contractor Is Arrested Over Stairway
Removal

By SUSAN SAULNY

contractor was arrested yesterday on charges that he
illegally removed three flights of stairs from a 19th-century
five-story walk-up building in Manhattan, forcing a rooftop
evacuation of dozens of people, the police said.

In response to complaints from tenants, police officers arrived
at 21 West 106th Street around 11 a.m. and found that the
staircases on the third, fourth and fifth floors had been removed,
leaving some tenants unable to enter or leave their apartments.

The contractor, Wilfredo Heredia of Heredia Iron Works on
West 105th Street in Manhattan, was charged with working
without a building permit and driving with a suspended license,
the police said. No explanation was given for his action.

The landlord, Barry Singer, was not present, the authorities
said.

Tenants in the building said they woke up to a chaotic scene.

Darlene Oliver, 38, a dental assistant who lives on the second
floor, said: "We heard a whole lot of noise, rumbling and
banging, things going down the steps. I opened the door. I saw
rubble all over the floor. I looked up and the steps were gone."

Tenants on higher floors yelled to her that they could not get
down.

Firefighters used ladders to get past gaps in the stairs. They
evacuated people by leading them to the roof, over to an
adjacent building, then down its stairs.

Zenobia McDaniel, 67, has lived in the building since 1960.
She said tenants were not given any warning.

"Nobody knew this was going to happen," she said.

Another resident, Susan D. Calvin, a photographer, said she
found out about the problem when a friend buzzed up from the
front door.

Ms. Calvin said, "I'm really upset and I can't believe they
thought they could do this."

After the evacuation, an emergency building permit was issued
by the mayor's office to replace the stairs.

Twelve families from 20 apartments were evacuated by
midafternoon. They were receiving help from the Red Cross
last night.

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: new york times today:

: July 20, 2001

:            Contractor Is Arrested Over Stairway
:            Removal

:            By SUSAN SAULNY

:                contractor was arrested yesterday on charges that he
:                illegally removed three flights of stairs from a 19th-century
:            five-story walk-up building in Manhattan, forcing a rooftop
:            evacuation of dozens of people, the police said.

:            In response to complaints from tenants, police officers arrived
:            at 21 West 106th Street around 11 a.m. and found that the
:            staircases on the third, fourth and fifth floors had been removed,
:            leaving some tenants unable to enter or leave their apartments.

:            The contractor, Wilfredo Heredia of Heredia Iron Works on
:            West 105th Street in Manhattan, was charged with working
:            without a building permit and driving with a suspended license,
:            the police said. No explanation was given for his action.

:            The landlord, Barry Singer, was not present, the authorities
:            said.

:            Tenants in the building said they woke up to a chaotic scene.

:            Darlene Oliver, 38, a dental assistant who lives on the second
:            floor, said: "We heard a whole lot of noise, rumbling and
:            banging, things going down the steps. I opened the door. I saw
:            rubble all over the floor. I looked up and the steps were gone."

:            Tenants on higher floors yelled to her that they could not get
:            down.

:            Firefighters used ladders to get past gaps in the stairs. They
:            evacuated people by leading them to the roof, over to an
:            adjacent building, then down its stairs.

:            Zenobia McDaniel, 67, has lived in the building since 1960.
:            She said tenants were not given any warning.

:            "Nobody knew this was going to happen," she said.

:            Another resident, Susan D. Calvin, a photographer, said she
:            found out about the problem when a friend buzzed up from the
:            front door.

:            Ms. Calvin said, "I'm really upset and I can't believe they
:            thought they could do this."

:            After the evacuation, an emergency building permit was issued
:            by the mayor's office to replace the stairs.

:            Twelve families from 20 apartments were evacuated by
:            midafternoon. They were receiving help from the Red Cross
:            last night.


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