Clarkstown Takes On Monsey Company Over Illegal House Conversions

NEW CITY, NY — Clarkstown officials are seeking a court order that would allow them to inspect 37 rental homes handled by First Choice SV Property Management LLC, Town Supervisor George Hoehmann announced in a news conference Thursday.

They also announced the discovery of another overcrowded illegally converted single-family house at 189 Quaspeck Blvd. in Valley Cottage, over which they have gone to court.

"There were 25 people inside a single family home," Hoehmann said. "At least some are in the country illegally and appear to be recent arrivals. There were people sleeping in the attic crawl space. This is completely unacceptable."

The town's focus on overcrowded rentals began in September with the discovery of conditions at 295 New Hempstead Road, where inspectors found more than 30 people packed into a small Cape. Hoehmann called it a "migrant flophouse" and vowed to investigate the phenomenon.

"We discovered a pattern involving a number of properties," Hoehmann said.

First Choice Property Management, which he said manages 339 rental homes across Rockland County, had certainly violated Clarkstown law by not putting the ones they manage in town on the rental registry, he said. He said they are also suspected of running several illegal conversions, which he called "migrant flophouses."

Some of their properties in Clarkstown are not a concern, he said. Though "it took some doing," about 20 appear to be in compliance with building and safety codes or are in "various stages of being brought into compliance." However, on 16 properties, the company "frankly refused" town inspectors and those, Hoehmann said, are suspected to be in violation.

In September, town officials obtained first a temporary order and then a final ruling that the New Hempstead house had to be vacated and re-converted to a legal single-family home. Now the town has gone to court to request the same for the Valley Cottage house, Hoehmann said.

They're also in court over five other properties:

• 75 Freedman Ave, Nanuet
• 446 Storms Road, Valley Cottage
• 7 Olin Drive, Nanuet
• 2 Charles Street, Nanuet
• 312 N. Middletown Road, Nanuet

By unanimous vote, the Town Council authorized counsel to commence a civil action against the management company as well, Hoehmann said.

He said the three-pronged attack — bringing legal action against a number of properties managed by First Choice, going into state supreme court for an order giving access to any of their properties, and separate legal action against the company itself — was essential to protect the tenants and the county's first responders. He cited a fire in an illegal conversion in Spring Valley in March that killed two children and three adults.

The county's first responders have been complaining for decades about illegal, overcrowded rentals.

SEE:

• Crackdown On Illegal Housing Urged
• Rockland Fire Officials Seek Crackdown on Illegal Housing

Hoehmann and Rockland County Ed Day, who was at the news conference, said they were worried for the safety of these new migrants.

"My fear is that they're being taken advantage of, and that they're being forced into domestic service at below market rates," Hoehmann said. "These folks are here within weeks of crossing the border."

He also said a resident had complained to police about women with babies selling gum outside a mall in Nanuet.

Day said illegal housing in Rockland had "all the earmarks of a criminal enterprise."

"There's too much money involved. Follow the money," he said, explaining that he had written to New York Attorney General Letitia James asking her to investigate.

"We're not giving them the American dream, we're setting them to potential servitude or worse," Day said.

Also speaking at the news conference was Rockland County Legislator James Foley, who urged people to report illegal conversions. Referring to the fatal fire in March, Foley said "It's only by a miracle that this isn't a press conference about dead people." Foley represents District 17, which includes the West Nyack section of Clarkstown.

Concern in Rockland County over the influx of migrants reached a high pitch this year. Officials said it would exacerbate the affordable housing crisis and strain local food pantries. They also went to court to stop New York City from temporarily housing 340 asylum-seekers in Orangetown, saying the men would be a danger to the two colleges, senior citizens residential facility and high school nearby. A judge agreed.

RELATED:

• With 'No Faith' In NYC, Judge Grants Rockland Injunction Over Migrants
• NYC Plan For Migrants Like 'Human Trafficking' - Rockland County Exec
• Migrant Emergency Orders Are Unconstitutional: Federal Judge
• Hotel In Orangeburg May Reopen For Guests, Not NYC Migrant Program
• Illegal Immigration: National Issue, Local Effects: Rockland