Following a long-awaited inspection of the Kingston Motel by the Town of Ulster Building Department which found no fewer than 70 code violations at the facility used by the county for emergency housing for families, Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger and Town of Ulster Supervisor Jim Quigley are on the same page: the violations must be remedied.

According to Metzger, the two met on Tuesday to go over the results of the inspection. Following a series of stories by Kingston Wire on the unclean and dangerous conditions there, Quigley directed town building inspectors to return to the motel, which was last inspected two years ago. County spokeswoman Amberly Jane Campbell told Kingston Wire on Wednesday that county government has suspended placing people at the motel.

“The inspection, conducted on September 18, identified multiple violations of the New York State Property Maintenance Code, including issues related to sanitation, ventilation, and general habitability,” a press release from the county stated. “All of these issues are fully correctable, and the town has ordered the property owner to resolve them within 30 days.”

“The Town Building Department has completed its inspection of the Kingston Motel and has issued a report identifying various violations,” Quigley stated. “A Notice of Violation has been issued to the property owner to correct the violations identified. The property owner is now responsible for addressing those deficiencies within 30 days.”

Mukash Patel has been described as the owner of the motel; the report lists the addressee as Everest Hospitality, LLC, 445 Route 304 in the Rockland County hamlet of Bardonia.

Among the violations found in apartments and listed in the building department’s draft report:

“Damaged and missing flooring, roaches, mold in shower, shower drain broken, toilet loose, HVAC damaged.”
“Floor damage not repaired properly, mold present, tub leaks, faucet drain plug non-functioning, HVAC leaks condensate into room, window screen broken, peeling paint.”
“Roaches/bedbugs, flooring missing/damaged, plumbing issues, door damage, floor tile cracked.”
“Sink faucet loose, no power [in] bathroom, toilet seat loose, roaches, holes in exterior walls, toilet loose and doesn’t flush.”
“Bedbugs, crack over window, peeling paint, toilet non-functioning, bulbs missing [for the] vanity light, damaged walls over window, damaged flooring.”

“Every violation must be immediately corrected, and every unit must meet the standards our residents deserve,” Metzger stated. “Many of the families living at the Kingston Motel are facing difficult circumstances, and they deserve safe, clean temporary shelter until permanent housing can be secured. We will not stand for anything less, and if the violations are not corrected, we will stop placements there. I want to thank the Town of Ulster Building Department for its meticulous inspection and the Town of Ulster for its partnership in protecting the health and safety of motel guests.”

According to the release, “The town and county will continue to coordinate oversight and support to ensure that all corrective actions are completed within the required timeframe.”