City, Homeowners Disagree On Water Main Break Damage

Astoria residents whose houses are sinking as a result of water damage are demanding that the city soak up its mess.
Two separate water main breaks, one in February 2002, the other in January 2003, have left six two-family homes on 47th Street with structural damage, mainly to their foundations. The flooding also caused the homes to visibly sink, with most dropping between one and two inches.
"Each time the water main broke the city just tried to put a band-aid on it," said Jeanmarie Scarlatto, whose home suffered structural damage that caused the ceilings and floors to separate from the walls. "What makes it worse is the fact that this cost me more than a year of aggravation and numerous days off work. And on top of all this, I was slapped with a $20,000 fine for failure to maintain my home."
Of the six homes affected, four put in claims to the city.
Additionally, the homeowners hired private engineers to assess the damage and offer an estimate for repair costs. Most were told that the price of repairing and fortifying their homes would be between $80,000 and $100,000.
The city, after conducting its own inspection, gave each homeowner a reimbursement estimate. That figure was about 20% of the total.
"We were given an option of accepting $4,500 for each household when the damages totaled close to $80,000 or $100,000, depending on the home," said Scarlatto. "That amount [$4,000] will just about cover the costs of the permit and the architect."
Further, residents say what makes matters worse is the fact that most of the long-time residents are senior citizens on a fixed budget.
"Ive been in the neighborhood for 40 years and we never before had a problem like this," said Themis Constantinides, another homeowner affected by the water. "The repairs are very costly."
Further, although the occupants of the homes were told that their residences were habitable, most still have health concerns.
"I have a two-and-one-half-year-old son," said Scarlatto. "After the ceiling in his room buckled and flaked I didnt feel it was safe for him to be in his room. He hasnt slept there for 13 months."
Assemblyman Michael Gianaris, after hearing the residents plight, contacted the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Buildings Department and the comptrollers office, demanding that the figure be reevaluated.
"This whole neighborhood is made up of people who work hard," said Gianaris. "They dont expect very much from their city, but what they certainly dont expect is the city to turn its back on them when the citys negligence caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage."
The comptrollers office is currently preparing a response to the residents claims, city officials said.