202 Franklin St is located two blocks from the Greenpoint Waterfront, in the last 3 years the waterfront has become prime real estate for development of luxury housing, in the case of this building, a fire in 2003 forced the tenants out of their home, since then the owners had refused to fix the building and offered to each tenant money for buyout.
The current owner has tried to sell the property advertising it as a "vacant lot ideal for development of condos.
"Is about time the City is taking a leader roll with this building, we want our homes back but also we want to make an example of this landlord, so the rest of them know that this community is strong and united." Declared Vivian Martinez, one of the 4 families displaced by this landlord.