Tenants who lived in Bronx buildings destroyed by fires are calling for an investigation into their landlord.
Eduardo Santiago and his neighbors were left homeless on June 11, 2023. His building on 1420 Nobel Ave. caught fire and has been stamped with a full vacate order since.
"I was just relaxing and all of a sudden, in one hour's time, everything I had was just gone," said Eduardo Santiago, a displaced tenant from 1420 Nobel Ave.
The FDNY says the fire started in the cockloft, a space between the buildings ceiling and roof. It was deemed to be caused by an electrical problem.
Days later on June 14, 2023, a similar scene broke out at 735 East 242nd St. Except this time, the fire was deadly. Two people lost their lives in another electrical fire that started in the cockloft.
"The same way that our fire started on the same side of our building, was the same fire that started in Wakefield, and me and my neighbors went to go talk to tenants about it," said Alan Ward, a displaced tenant from 1420 Nobel Ave.
Fast forward to Jan. 10 of this year, when another fire occurred on Wallace Avenue. The flames moved fast through the top floor and roof, leaving more than 260 people homeless. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
"It's odd that you have all these buildings, and they just keep catching fire, that's more than a coincidence to me," said Santiago.
All three properties are managed by Ved Parkash, a landlord who was named the worst in New York City in 2015 by then- Public Advocate Letitia James. Currently, Parkash has more than 2,000 complaints and over 500 housing violations against him, according to the city's Housing Preservation and Development department.
Parkash declined an interview with News 12 but responded to questions in a statement:
"We are refraining from commenting on 2910 Wallace Ave. since this remains an active fire investigation. We are committed to meeting our obligations and meeting the needs of our tenants as an affordable housing provider in some of the most underserved communities in the Bronx. In the case of Nobel Ave., and also the current situation with Wallace Ave., we placed tenants who requested a transfer in housing at our other properties in the borough. The Nobel Ave. construction has been a lengthy and complex process, first having to wait for the completion of the fire investigation and then applying for permits for asbestos removal and all other work. We shored up the structure and have installed a new roof, new electrical wiring, and are now working on rehabilitating the apartments. The building has been and will remain vacant throughout the completion of this work. It is everyone's best interest to get this building back on line – for us as a business to have a fully occupied building, and most importantly for Bronx families in need of quality affordable housing."
In the case of 1420 Nobel Ave., HPD says it is now taking legal action, as repairs are far behind schedule.
"You got people displaced, everywhere, and you mean to tell me he's not being investigated?" said Alan Ward.
Meanwhile, tenants like Santiago are still left in limbo, waiting to return home years later.
"We're in a room, in a shelter, and this place was supposed to be fixed by now," said Santiago.
