Cited After Fire, UWS Landlord Sues Rockland Code Enforcement Office

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — The owners and operators of Country Village Towers in Spring Valley, the apartment building where 90 people were displaced after a fire in March, are suing Rockland County over the 100+ building and safety code violations for which they were issued citations afterward.

They're not disputing the violations — instead NBM Management, Weinreb Management, Country Village Towers Corp., and Jacob Weinreb are arguing that the county is wrong to take property owners who don't fix their violations and pay their fines to administrative court.

Jacob Weinreb and Weinreb Management are at the center of another major lawsuit, this one filed by New York City for 200+ building and fire code violations at 11 properties that include failing to maintain fire escapes, sprinklers, and alarm systems despite repeated citations.

SEE:

• City Sues Controversial UWS Landlord For Fire Safety Violations
• Scaffold Covers Nearly All Of UWS Landlord's Buildings: See It
• Scaffold Covers UWS Building For 15 Years, Residents Say

Rockland officials said administrative courts are traditionally used statewide including in the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Environmental Conservation, and other agencies.

Officials at the county's Office of Building Codes said they're using that system because it expedites the legal process compared to the traditional court system, to place more pressure on the landlord to remedy dangerous violations putting lives at risk.

Country Village Towers had 100+ of the most egregious violations discovered at a single property since Rockland launched the state-mandated effort to clean up Spring Valley's troubled code enforcement operation in mid-February.

The fire broke out March 9, building, trapping people inside and requiring firefighters to rescue a toddler from a seventh-floor apartment. SEE: Apartment House Fire Affects 90 In Spring Valley

First responders noted the fire alarm system didn't work: no audio or visual alarm had sounded. Then inspectors discovered a lot more. None of the inspected units had smoke alarms in each bedroom, as required, and of all the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms tested nearly all failed, didn't activate, and were outdated. Also:

• No fire extinguishers in hallways (one is required every 75 feet)
• Combustible materials in hallways
• Flammable caulking
• Corroded fire pump
• Exposed wires throughout the building
• Fire doors not closing properly
• No elevator certificate of inspection
• Black mold in several apartments
• Deteriorating stairways and balconies

After the fire, county inspectors found 25 illegally converted apartments with living and dining rooms transformed into makeshift bedrooms; and officials said that number could increase because at least 19 apartments at Country Village Towers were locked and inspectors were unable to get in.

A look at the records revealed exactly the kind of negligence that the new office is meant to fix, county officials said.

The last inspection performed at Country Village Towers was in 2019 with 11 violations noted. However, the property was not reinspected to ensure the violations were remedied — and it appears none of them ever were, county officials said. For example, the problems listed in 2019 include electrical hazards throughout the building, apartment and stairwell doors not latching properly, no elevator inspection and issues with smoke and fire alarms.

The violations still have not been remedied, continuing to put lives of those living there at risk, OBC officials said.

“This is a prime example of an irresponsible landlord trying to scapegoat the law,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day. “Our administrative court is a legal, well-established process and I pledge to fight this ridiculous lawsuit.”