the owner planned to bull doze the building until residents came up with millions to shore it up. now, it looks like they'll get their belongings back. >> reporter: most of joan this building. >> all of my belongings are in there. >> reporter: she sold her house and put everything in storage. >> the killed billing can't be safed and needs to be demolished. i said what about our belongings? they will be demolished. i was angry. i was really angry. i heard that. >> this 13-year-old was was worried about the items her family store there'd. >> my great grandmother's piano is in there. >> reporter: 223 tenants found out their valuables are trapped here at napa self storage. the city red tagged the structure after the quake, it's shell, buckled. too risky to go inside. >> if you want your belongings, this is how much you're going to pay. >> reporter: owners gave them a choice. >> an ultimatum. >> tenants could pay a contractor to shore up the building and remove their belongings or lose everything in a demolition. the cost, $170 million. tenants paying $1700 each. with no assurances. >> it doesn't seem fair a renter has to be responsible for someone else's building