'Flophouse' Owner Also Faces $23,000 In Fines For Spring Valley House

SPRING VALLEY, NY — The Rockland County Office of Buildings and Codes is issuing a $23,000 fine to Schloima Koppel for 32 violations found at Koppel’s Spring Valley rental at 8 W. Funston St.

Koppel is the landlord accused last week of housing 31 people in a single-family property at 295 New Hempstead Road that Clarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann called a 'migrant flophouse.' SEE: Clarkstown Gains Temporary Restraining Order for 'Migrant Flophouse'

The inspection of 8 W. Funston St. uncovered 8 bedrooms and 16 beds, in what should be a 3-bedroom home, Rockland County officials said.

Inspectors are still trying to determine how many people are living in the property as the investigation found three people sharing one of the beds in the home.

In addition to overcrowding, violations found include blocked egresses, electrical hazards, illegal conversions, and missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Per OBC’s standard administrative process, the landlord has 30 days to remedy and request reinspection.

The County Office of Buildings and Codes assumed control of the Village of Spring Valley Building Department as ordered by New York State Department of State effective Feb. 14, 2022.

Under New York State law, 3-family homes and above, commercial, and places of assembly are subject to mandatory inspections and fall under OBC’s jurisdiction.

Since single-family and two-family homes do not, county oficials urge people to submit complaints of unsafe housing.

Single and two-family homes, which the property involved is classified as, are not subject to required inspections under New York State law but OBC inspectors obtained a search warrant to enter and inspect the property for safety concerns and overcrowding, which was discovered, following dangerous levels of overcrowding found at the landlords Town of Clarkstown property.

"Building and Fire Codes were designed to protect the welfare and safety of residents, visitors, and first responders and it is inhumane of landlords to put profit above people," said County Executive Ed Day. He predicted the situation in Rockland would get worse if state and federal officials did not stop allowing migrants to be "moved across the country illegally."

The problem with illegal and unsafe housing has plagued Rockland for a decade or more. The Rockland Codes Initiative was begun in 2015. SEE: Rockland County Reports Progress Taking on Slumlords

"I am delighted that the work between the Town of Clarkstown and the County of Rockland has again borne fruit," Hoehmann said. "The migrant flophouse in Clarkstown led to the county following up as part of the joint investigation into another property in Spring Valley, owned by the same owner Schloima Koppel. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with County Executive Ed Day to stop illegal housing and the trafficking of migrants in our communities."

The county executive wrote a letter to New York Attorney General Letitia James calling on her to investigate the movement of migrants. He said early reports indicated that the residents of the Clarkstown house were recent arrivals and that several planned to leave so others could arrive, making it what he termed "a halfway house for migrants."

The Office of Buildings and Codes requests complaints in Spring Valley be submitted by calling 845-364-3700 or emailing BuildingsAndCodes@co.rockland.ny.us.

Rockland Codes Investigations requests all Sanitary Code Violations be reported to 845-364-2585 or by filing a report online.

The Rockland County Department of Health’s Healthy Neighborhoods Program provides free safety outreach, including providing smoke detectors, and education to eligible residents including low-income residents, seniors, and at-risk families.

To schedule a free Healthy Neighborhoods Program home visit, a presentation for your organization, or for more information, please call 845-364-3292 or 845-364-3290.