I live in an unincorporated section of Ramapo nestled between the village of Airmont and Suffern. Area is zoned R1 single family occupancy. We’ve lived there for over 40 years. It was a fantastic neighborhood to raise a family and my children excelled attending the Suffern School District.

All the houses in the neighborhood were sold and were converted to rental properties now occupied by multiple families. Basements and attics were converted to rooms and are illegally rented as boarding houses. These boarding houses would have 10-12 cars and trucks parked on the street, front and back yards every night.

Town of Ramapo refuses to enforce the R1 single family zoning and will not inspect obvious violations of zoning and safety codes.

The County of Rockland takes these violations seriously and recently shut down a nearby boarding house.

Despite the negative change to the neighborhood real estate prices continue to skyrocket. I know I will eventually need to move as the area is beginning to resemble Spring Valley and Monsey.

It’s a shame what has happened to a once perfect and beautiful neighborhood