""They've left me hanging," said 59-year-old Lu Nicaj, whose 30-year tile-construction supply shop Eagle Tile is facing closure over the upcoming second phase of the behemoth Manhattan transit project. "I don't know the future. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but I do not know what's gonna happen," he told The Post. "It's the whole David and Goliath thing," Nicaj said - adding that this time David might not win."
"Nicaj is just one of several East Harlem business owners being forced out of their storefronts to make way for new subway stops between East 116th and East 125th streets as part of the MTA's long-awaited $7.7 billion train-line extension. The MTA claimed eminent domain on the properties in August - meaning tenants and landowners alike were given no choice but to leave - while promising to provide the legally required financial compensation and relocation assistance."
Several East Harlem storefronts and adjacent lots face displacement for the Second Avenue Subway phase between East 116th and East 125th streets. The MTA claimed eminent domain in August and pledged legally required financial compensation and relocation assistance, but many businesses report delays and little practical help. Eagle Tile owner Lu Nicaj spent about $100,000 moving materials for storage and risks closure without reimbursement or an alternative storage option. Business owners describe uncertainty, mounting debt, and frustration as they await clarity on when or if the MTA will pay promised costs.
Read at New York Post
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