Ramapo home used as illegal dorm is vacated
By SULAIMAN BEG
THE JOURNAL NEWS
MONSEY - A single-family home that was cited by Ramapo last week for being used as an illegal dormitory for boys has been completely emptied.
While two minivans and a white van were parked on the front lawn of 45 Blauvelt Road, any remnants of occupants in the home were gone.
Rooms were emptied of furniture, walls were stripped bare and blinds had been removed.
A violation notice, posted Thursday and signed by the town's Deputy Building Inspector Steve Conlee, was taped to the home's front window saying that it was not being used "in conformity with its certificate of occupancy."
The town's Assistant Fire Inspector, Adam Peltz, who was twice denied entry to the home last week, said he visited the site yesterday morning and found that it was unoccupied.
"From last week it was completely different," Peltz said. "This potentially closes the door on the violation."
Peltz said it appeared the violation had been abated, but "if the violation returns, we have the option of moving forward." He added that the house must have been vacated over the weekend.
The house's occupancy came into question last week when a Journal News reporter observed dozens of boys running inside several times over the course of a week.
The boys were seen running from Congregation Khal Binyan David D'lhel's synagogue study hall, which is across the street.
The listed owner of 45 Blauvelt Road is a corporation called All in All USA.
A building permit was issued on Aug. 9 to Samuel Fisch of 45 Blauvelt Road to convert the house from a one- to a three-family dwelling with a total living space of more than 11,698 square feet, including the existing structure, according to Building Department records.
Construction of the addition is under way. The existing house measures 2,577 square feet. There also is a 736-square-foot recreation room.
Rabbi Mandel Polter, who was at the synagogue last week, told a reporter that he was renting the Blauvelt Road home, but declined to discuss its use.
Town Attorney Michael Klein had said the property would not be ordered closed unless there were an imminent danger to people, which an interior inspection could show.
A health or safety risk would lead the town to seek a state Supreme Court order closing the building. Otherwise, the matter would end up in Town Court to be prosecuted as a zoning infraction.
Fisch had 10 days to correct the violation. A single zoning infraction carries a fine up to $5,000.
When informed that the house had been vacated, Fisch responded, "Case closed."
"It was not used for a dorm," Fisch said. "It was used by a couple of boys who studied across the street. It was three to four bedrooms. I think you're blowing it out of proportion."
Klein said yesterday that since the property was vacated and any alleged illegal use was discontinued, the town would not commence any prosecution.
"Unless we have information that activity is resuming, the property at this juncture is not being used in violation of our local laws," he said. "All our observations were exterior. What was going on inside remains somewhat of a mystery."
The town doesn't find out about illegal dorms until someone calls about one or it is observed by town workers, Peltz said.
"Most of the dorms are off beaten paths," he said. "They're on side streets and can't be seen when you drive by."
(Original publication: December 12, 2006)
By SULAIMAN BEG
THE JOURNAL NEWS
MONSEY - A single-family home that was cited by Ramapo last week for being used as an illegal dormitory for boys has been completely emptied.
While two minivans and a white van were parked on the front lawn of 45 Blauvelt Road, any remnants of occupants in the home were gone.
Rooms were emptied of furniture, walls were stripped bare and blinds had been removed.
A violation notice, posted Thursday and signed by the town's Deputy Building Inspector Steve Conlee, was taped to the home's front window saying that it was not being used "in conformity with its certificate of occupancy."
The town's Assistant Fire Inspector, Adam Peltz, who was twice denied entry to the home last week, said he visited the site yesterday morning and found that it was unoccupied.
"From last week it was completely different," Peltz said. "This potentially closes the door on the violation."
Peltz said it appeared the violation had been abated, but "if the violation returns, we have the option of moving forward." He added that the house must have been vacated over the weekend.
The house's occupancy came into question last week when a Journal News reporter observed dozens of boys running inside several times over the course of a week.
The boys were seen running from Congregation Khal Binyan David D'lhel's synagogue study hall, which is across the street.
The listed owner of 45 Blauvelt Road is a corporation called All in All USA.
A building permit was issued on Aug. 9 to Samuel Fisch of 45 Blauvelt Road to convert the house from a one- to a three-family dwelling with a total living space of more than 11,698 square feet, including the existing structure, according to Building Department records.
Construction of the addition is under way. The existing house measures 2,577 square feet. There also is a 736-square-foot recreation room.
Rabbi Mandel Polter, who was at the synagogue last week, told a reporter that he was renting the Blauvelt Road home, but declined to discuss its use.
Town Attorney Michael Klein had said the property would not be ordered closed unless there were an imminent danger to people, which an interior inspection could show.
A health or safety risk would lead the town to seek a state Supreme Court order closing the building. Otherwise, the matter would end up in Town Court to be prosecuted as a zoning infraction.
Fisch had 10 days to correct the violation. A single zoning infraction carries a fine up to $5,000.
When informed that the house had been vacated, Fisch responded, "Case closed."
"It was not used for a dorm," Fisch said. "It was used by a couple of boys who studied across the street. It was three to four bedrooms. I think you're blowing it out of proportion."
Klein said yesterday that since the property was vacated and any alleged illegal use was discontinued, the town would not commence any prosecution.
"Unless we have information that activity is resuming, the property at this juncture is not being used in violation of our local laws," he said. "All our observations were exterior. What was going on inside remains somewhat of a mystery."
The town doesn't find out about illegal dorms until someone calls about one or it is observed by town workers, Peltz said.
"Most of the dorms are off beaten paths," he said. "They're on side streets and can't be seen when you drive by."
(Original publication: December 12, 2006)
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