More than two months after a four-alarm blaze tore through the Mona Lisa co-op residential complex at 671 Bronx River Road, some victims of the fire are still fighting to retrieve personal belongings from their homes. The residents’ displacement, combined with being unable to retrieve what remains of their belongings, adds anxiety to their already stressful situation.
According to a report by News 12 Westchester, a spokesperson for the City of Yonkers stated that asbestos concerns are preventing residents from returning to the building. While steps could be taken to expedite a remediation application, nothing has been filed by the building’s co-op board.
Some residents are fed up by the lack of action by the co-op board. At Wednesday’s board meeting, five Mona Lisa resident-owners met with the new management company and voted for a new co-op board. Attendees at the meeting were limited to apartment owners and board members. Items discussed at the meeting did not include plans to allow residents to retrieve their belongings. Also not included were plans for asbestos removal.
Concerns About Theft and Damage
Fears of burglary are rising for the displaced residents of the Mona Lisa building complex. For example, one resident expressed their concern over the lack of access to their personal items.
“We have all of our memories there. My parents–they passed away. Her pictures, the only one video I have–this is devastating for us.”
Requests for additional information from the Metropolitan Property Services, the co-op board president, and lawyers for the new board are yet to be answered.
One Dead, Nearly 100 Displaced
The massive apartment fire started around 1:00 a.m. on March 8th, 2023. More than 65 first responders and residents suffered injuries. And one male resident, 67-year-old Michael Damiano, died in the fire. 95 families were displaced from their homes.
In a statement at the time, Yonkers Police Department described the cause of the fire.
“The likely cause and origin was an electric heating lamp used to cultivate six marijuana plants that a resident was growing for personal adult-use.”
