A second building in New York City has been raided for allegedly being illegally converted into a shelter for West African immigrants living in cramped conditions, with both buildings belonging to the same owner, according to reports. Ta.
On Wednesday, city officials swept a two-story commercial building on East Kingsbridge Road in Fordham and found 34 beds on the ground floor and 11 crammed in the basement. ” a FNFY spokesperson told FOX News Digital.
Inside the Bronx building, inspectors also found extension cords, electric bicycles, space heaters and hot plates, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) told FOX 5. Lithium batteries caused a record number of fires, injuries and deaths in New York City last year, according to the FDNY.
A telephone shop in Forme, where the immigrants lived. (Google Maps)
Dozens of African immigrants are found crammed in the basement of a store, taking turns sleeping
The DOB issued a permanent eviction order to the store, citing life-threatening conditions, lack of natural light and ventilation, and extreme overcrowding. The department also charged the landlord with two violations for failing to maintain the building and for occupying the building contrary to city records, the New York Post reported.
The store is located at 305 East Kingsbridge Rd., which appears to have previously housed a cell phone store, and is just a few blocks from Fordham University.
Video from inside the building shows rooms packed with bunk beds separated by narrow hallways.
Tenants, most of them from Senegal, told Fox 5 they were paying $300 a month to stay but were told to pack up their belongings and leave.
Several men were seen carrying suitcases out of the building as NYPD officers watched. One man told Fox 5 he didn’t know where he would sleep Wednesday night. One man was taken by bus to a city-run evacuation center.
Ebouu Saar is listed as the landlord of both buildings, according to city records. (Fox 5)
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The FDNY said numerous other violations were handed down due to the building’s unsafe conditions, including the lack of exit signs, failure to provide portable fire extinguisher records, and failure to maintain a fire alarm system and secure exits. .
The sweep comes just two days after it was revealed that a building in Queens had also been converted into a makeshift hostel, cramming at least 74 migrants into the ground floor and basement of a furniture store.
Ebou Saar, 47, is listed as the owner of both buildings, Fox 5 reported, citing city records.
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) also issued a permanent eviction order against a store called Sars Wholesale Furniture located at 132-02 Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill.
An overview of the Queens basement where Senegalese immigrants were held, Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Approximately 74 migrants were found living in the basement, and the landlord reportedly collected $300 per month per migrant. (Paul Martinka of the New York Post)
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Searle told Pix11 News on Monday that he charges immigrants $300 a month to live there.
He said most of the migrants are from Senegal and he is providing them with breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Cellphone video from inside the building showed the African men in a bright white room filled with low-ceilinged beds. Beds are placed close together and walking space is limited. A single narrow lane runs through the room, with beds on either side. Another video showed a similar room filled with bunk beds.
