Q&A
Council member raises concerns about the Sandhu Group's building violations
2:05:48
·
171 sec
Council Member Susan Zhuang presents information about numerous building violations and fines associated with the Sandhu Group, a developer involved in building homeless shelters. Commissioner Molly Wasow Park responds by explaining the department's focus on physical inspections and overall shelter quality.
- Zhuang cites multiple properties with violations and fines totaling over $140,000
- Park emphasizes that DSS contracts with not-for-profit providers, not directly with developers
- DSS focuses on ensuring buildings are physically appropriate and well-maintained for use as shelters
Susan Zhuang
2:05:48
And then in our rec in the record, I find that you were the Sandoz group who have been a work contract for new homeless shelter at 2147 Bass Avenue and then current at 2501 86th Street have a record, have numbers of violation with DOB violations such as comply, complain about demolition without permit, then apply permit later after they demolish everything, and then have accused amount $100,000 in building department fine in prior sites being built by them.
2:06:32
For example, in Staten Island, one of the property they own has 7 violations, more than $10,000 in fines.
2:06:41
Another one has 5 violations, more than $9,000 in fines.
2:06:45
And another one, 10 violations and 8 almost 19,000 in fines.
2:06:51
And in Brown's property had 5 violations and the 2,500 in fines.
2:06:56
Queens, the property had has 19 violations and $90,000 in fines.
2:07:04
Another property in Brooklyn has 10 violations and $10,000 in fines.
2:07:09
The Sandoz Group developer is in debt to the city, over 140,000 in fine.
2:07:17
And the number of violations, which raise a valid question, why the city continue to do business with this developer?
Molly Wasow Park
2:07:27
So I'm sorry.
2:07:27
I can't speak to the specific buildings list that that you mentioned.
2:07:33
Our direct relationship is with not for profit providers, and we will absolutely do all of the inspection that we need to know that a building is is physically appropriate, for use as a shelter.
2:07:49
It's not it's DHS does those inspections as does physical oversight agencies of the city as does the office of temporary and disability assistance.
2:08:00
You know, construction and built property management in the city of New York is is complicated.
2:08:06
It is important to look at full spectrum of circumstances, what types of violations are there.
2:08:12
We will make sure that any building that is being used as shelter is physically appropriate and and well maintained.
2:08:20
One of the things that has been really important to the agency over the last few years is that we continue to overall upgrade the physical stock of of the shelter footprint.
2:08:29
We have been aggressively closing buildings that do not meet our physical standards, and that is something we will continue to raise the bar on the the, real estate that we use as shelters.
Susan Zhuang
2:08:39
Okay.
