East Siders Shocked by Vacate Notice on Gramercy Apartment Building
The fire escapes at 243 East 18th St. were deemed unsafe by FDNY. Originally ordered to vacate immediately, tenants were but subsequently allowed to stay pending repairs.
Gramercy /
| 27 Mar 2026 | 02:36
Front of the building at 243 East 18th Street (
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Notice to vacate posted on front door of building at 243 E. 18th St. (
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Shocked tenants on a Gramercy Park apartment building thought they were going to be out on the street after a “Vacate” immediately was slapped on the door of the six-story abode last week.
They were subsequently allowed to remain in the building after the landlord brought in a “fire guard” to make sure no tenants used the shaky fire escapes while repairs are made.
The Department of Building (DOB) posted the order to vacate immediately at the six story apartment building at 243 East 18th St. after the building’s two fire escapes flunked and FDNY safety inspection. A building manager on site when Our Town stopped by on March 27 said that none of the residents are required to leave their homes pending repairs.
Known as “Gramercy Corner,” the building contains 22nd units. The FDNY reported two separate fire escapes in the front and back of the building have severely damaged steps throughout, and “other structural damage” according to the NYC Buildings website.
“Earlier today, this order was partially rescinded to allow re-occupancy of the vacated apartments that is contingent upon continuous use of a fire watch by an FDNY-certified fire guard hired by the building owner. The fire guard must remain on site at all times until the hazardous fire escape conditions are corrected,” said David Maggiotto, Deputy Press Secretary for the NYC Department of Buildings.
The fire guard who is stationed in the building lobby acts as a human fire detection system on site 24/7 until the comprised fire escapes are fixed by the landlord. He sits in the front lobby of the building.
The amount of time a vacate order is in effect depends on the severity of the problem and how soon the unsafe condition is corrected.
The building manager, who did not give his name, said the repairs to the first floor fire escapes are completed and that the rest of the project should be completed by March 31.
The FDNY will have to re-inspect the fire escapes and cerrify them as safe before the initial vacate order from the DOB can be officially lifted.