Spring Valley, NY — Rockland County has collected $718,000 in civil penalties from the owner of the former Evergreen Court Home for Adults, closing a years-long fight over fire and building safety violations tied to the 2021 blaze that killed a resident and firefighter.
County officials said SPJJ LLC, which owned the property at 65 Lafayette Street, paid the penalties after multiple court actions over the company’s failure to secure and clean up the site following the fire. The payment, announced by County Executive Ed Day’s office, caps a prolonged enforcement effort that began as investigators documented chronic code violations at the facility both before and after the disaster.
“This isn’t just about dollars; it’s about accountability and public safety,” Day said in a statement, adding that the resolution is meant to deter neglect at properties housing vulnerable residents.
What happened in 2021
The overnight fire on March 23, 2021, erupted during pre-Passover kitchen cleaning and rapidly engulfed the three-story building. More than 200 residents were evacuated. A resident died, and Spring Valley firefighter Jared Lloyd, 35, was killed when part of the structure collapsed as crews battled the flames.
Post-incident reviews by local and state authorities detailed longstanding safety problems at the adult home, including fire protection deficiencies. Investigators and regulators also raised concerns about alarm performance and water supply challenges that hampered firefighting, according to official reports.
Years of violations, then a cleanup order
After the fire, county departments cited the owner for leaving the property unsecured and littered with debris, drawing trespassers and creating ongoing hazards. The penalties collected this week reflect repeated, unresolved violations under New York’s Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and local ordinances, officials said.
According to county records, the funds will support emergency services and code enforcement. The settlement also requires demolition and remediation of the remains of the structure under county oversight. SPJJ LLC will be unable to pursue any future development at the location without demonstrating full code compliance, officials said.
Accountability and community response
The Evergreen case sparked sustained public outcry and calls for tougher oversight of adult care facilities. In 2023, two men charged in connection with the kitchen cleaning that led to the fire received probation as part of a plea agreement, a decision that angered many residents and first responders. Families of victims have continued to push for stronger safety requirements, including sprinklers and stricter inspection schedules for older buildings.
In a brief statement through court filings related to the settlement, a representative for SPJJ LLC said the company had complied with the agreement and was “committed to community safety moving forward.”
Broader scrutiny of adult care safety
The Evergreen tragedy became a touchstone in New York’s broader review of long-term and adult-care safety practices, especially in dense communities where aging buildings house residents with limited mobility. State officials have stepped up inspections and enforcement in recent years, and local leaders say they intend to keep pressure on operators who fall out of compliance.
County leaders framed the $718,000 collection as both consequence and cautionary tale. While the payment resolves the civil penalties, regulators said the real measure of progress will be whether owners across the region invest in prevention and bring older properties up to today’s standards.
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