Landlord of Burned Bronx Building Sued to Stop Heat Monitoring
‘Important Public Safety Concern’
In September 2024, Parkash and several associated LLCs sued HPD to challenge his buildings’ inclusion in the program, alleging the agency failed to “sufficiently inform” him why they’d been selected and therefore did not “satisfy minimum due process necessary.” The lawsuit stated he could face initial civil penalties as much as $2.9 million plus an additional $5.1 million for each day out of compliance.
By November, a judge denied Parkash’s petition and ordered him to comply with the Heat Sensors Program by this Wednesday. The fire at 2910 Wallace took place five days before that deadline.
Landlord Ved Parkash Credit: Eddie Small/ DNAinfo
“The costs imposed are directly tied to ensuring that tenants receive adequate heat during the winter months, a legitimate and important public safety concern,” Judge Raymond Fernandez wrote in his decision.
According to HPD, Parkash submitted some of the necessary documentation last Thursday, the day before the fire, showing progress toward compliance.
Struggling for Solutions
Space heaters have proved deadly in recent incidents. Just three days before the fire at 2910 Wallace Ave, one person died in a Washington Heights fire that originated with space heaters plugged into extension cords, according to the FDNY.
A malfunctioning space heater was the source of the devastating Twin Parks fire in early 2022, which killed 17 people. After that catastrophe, Rep. Ritchie Torres and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand introduced a bill to require federally assisted rental apartments to install temperature sensors, but it did not advance.
In 2023, a report from New York City Comptroller Brad Lander found that the Northwest Bronx led the city in heat complaints. The report recommended scaling up the Heat Sensors Program, among other actions, to prevent potentially dangerous situations from desperate tenants using space heaters or stoves to warm their homes.
The program was created through legislation introduced in 2018 by Torres, then a City Council member, at the request of then-Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who’d previously partnered with a nonprofit called Heat Seek NYC to pilot its sensors.
“The heat sensors program is a necessary but insufficient condition for holding the worst landlords like Ved Parkash accountable,” Torres said in a statement on Monday. “There is a need for federal legislation that makes the installation of heat sensors in buildings like 2910 Wallace Avenue a condition of receiving federal funds from programs like Section 8. Without a robust enforcement mechanism, heat sensors on their own will only take us so far.”
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Conclusion
The recent fire in the Bronx highlights the importance of effective heat monitoring in residential buildings, particularly for landlords with a history of chronic heat complaints. The Heat Sensors Program is a crucial step in ensuring that tenants have access to safe and habitable living conditions. However, more needs to be done to hold landlords accountable for their responsibilities and to ensure that the program is enforced effectively.
FAQs
Q: What is the Heat Sensors Program?
A: The Heat Sensors Program is a program introduced by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development to require landlords with a history of chronic heat complaints to install heat sensors in their buildings.
Q: Why is the program necessary?
A: The program is necessary to ensure that tenants have access to safe and habitable living conditions, particularly during the winter months. Heat sensors can help detect potential issues with building heating systems and prevent the use of alternative heating sources, such as space heaters, which can be hazardous.
Q: What is the purpose of the lawsuit against Parkash?
A: The lawsuit is an attempt by Parkash to challenge the inclusion of his buildings in the Heat Sensors Program, alleging that the agency failed to properly inform him of the reasons for his selection and therefore did not satisfy the necessary due process.
