Inspectors Give Dozens Of High-Rent NYC Tenants The Boot After Discovery Of 60 Resident'l Units Carved Out Of 16-Story "Deathtrap" Sans Proper Permits

In New York City, the New York Post reports:

• Dozens of families who thought they found luxury housing in a Manhattan landmark were homeless [this week] after city inspectors ordered them out of what one source described as a "deathtrap" that was illegally converted from office space. Inspectors from the Buildings and Fire departments slapped a vacate order on the 16-story landmark building at 1182 Broadway Tuesday after getting a tip that the office building was turned into an apartment building without any permits.

• But inspectors also found that the building, which can be legally used only for offices, was converted without essential fire-safety systems, including sprinklers, alarms and a second stairway for residents to use in emergencies. "You've got one staircase in this building and no sprinkler system. If there's a fire, what's going to happen? This was a deathtrap," said a source familiar with the city's investigation, which was prompted by a tip phoned in late Monday.

• The owners, who carved 60 apartments out of the top 13 floors, never received city permits to perform the renovations, or to convert the building to residential. Tenants, many with young children, were devastated by the sudden rush from their homes. [...] The building is owned by Mocal Enterprises, whose principals include Calvin Haddad and his daughter, Dana Haddad, who lives in the building, where monthly rents range from $2,900 to $5,000 for the one- and two-bedroom units.

For the story, see Deluxe tenants are 'evict'ims (Tossed from 'deathtrap' apts.).