A Staten Island development is footing the bill to repair a faulty retaining wall, which they claim the city should bear responsibility. NY1’s Amanda Farinacci filed the following report.

It took only minutes for a vicious nor'easter to destroy a retaining wall in Rosebank, Staten Island last April, but cleaning up the damage and paying for repairs are problems that have yet to be solved.

Fixing the wall is expected to cost upwards of $2 million, which is not covered by insurance, and some residents of the affected private development, known as Waterview Court, say they cannot afford to foot the bill.

“If I have to end up with paying $600, $700 dollars a month, on top of my mortgage and bills, I have to just walk out of that home,” said resident Anna Khalfin.

The Skyline Point Homeowners Association is made up of 27 homes, but just nine of them were severely damaged by the storm, with their owners forced to relocate until the wall is fixed.
The remaining 18 homeowners sued to avoid responsibility for the repairs.

But in December, a judge ruled the entire homeowners association is responsible, and appointed a receiver to make sure the work is done.

Delays caused by the lawsuit pushed the start of permanent repair work back to March, and while engineers could not comment on camera about the repairs, they said off-camera the wall collapsed because of shoddy workmanship and the builder could not be found.

“I want the parties that are responsible for it, and by that I mean the buildings department, the builder himself, if he can be found, and the city to be responsible for what they have done. Somebody was here when this community was built, somebody approved it, somebody thought it was right and now I know for sure that it's not,” said Khalfin.

Department of Buildings officials said they are working with a contractor to make the repairs, but the homeowners will have to pay for the work soon.
Engineers say the roughly year-long project will include replacing the retaining wall, as well as the storm and sewer systems - first near the nine damaged homes and eventually near the 18 others.

A meeting is tentatively scheduled for Saturday between the homeowners association, the court appointed receiver, and the DOB.

- Amanda Farinacci