Meet Tranquilina Alvillar, who has been living in the same Bedford Avenue apartment for 25 years.In 2011, developers bought her building to convert it into modern luxury rental units. The only problem was, they couldn't get her to leave—not witha cash buyout, or by changing the lock, or by demolishing the building all around her."I always pay my rent," said Alvillar. "Why do I have to leave?"Subscribe to There Goes The Neighborhood on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.
When developers tried to force Tranquilina Alvillar out of her Williamsburg apartment of 25 years, she fought them—and won.