Jersey City officials announced yesterday they are poised to slap the owners of the former artists' enclave with $77 million in fines for fire code violations on Monday in hopes of making the structure habitable again.

Not to be out million-ed, the owner of the now-vacant downtown building - New Gold Equities - filed a $100 million civil rights lawsuit in federal court yesterday, charging various city agencies and officials with depriving it of the right to rip down the dilapidated structure and rebuild as it chooses.