'Who knows how much longer it will take?': Valley Cottage condo owner awaits day he can return home

The 16 people who were displaced by the fire have had to pay mortgage and maintenance fees even though they are still not living in the building.

News 12 Staff

Aug 21, 2020, 11:21 PM

Updated 1,358 days ago

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It's been 16 months since a fire destroyed the Mounainview Condominium Complex in Valley Cottage and residents still don't know when they will be able to return.
The 16 people who were displaced by the fire have had to pay mortgage and maintenance fees even though they are still not living in the building.
"Who knows how much longer it will take?" says unit owner Chris Brauer.
Brauer inherited the condo from his brother-in-law. Since then, Brauer has shelled out $1,600 a month for the mortgage and maintenance fees.
"Financially, it's very difficult," says Brauer. "Fortunately, we do have a residence where we're living now but the people who were displaced were displaced all over the country."
The management company of the Mountainview condos tells News 12 many issues surfaced over the last year and a half. The first was an issue with asbestos, which slowed down the demolition. Now there's an issue with steel beams.
This has all delayed a settlement with insurance company Greater New York. News 12 is told a settlement may happen in the next two weeks.
Assemblyman Ken Zebrowksi says he has taken information from the tenants and has spoken with the board's attorney who gave him the policy information. Zebrowski passed all the information to the Department of Financial Services and was told it would look into the matter and try to push things along.
News 12's requests for comment from the insurance company and the town of Clarkstown supervisor about the project have gone unanswered.


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