From the Times Newsweekly:Legislation to allow developers to quickly restart stalled construction sites by agreeing to increased safety standards while construction is suspended is on the way, announced Mayor Michael Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri.
As noted, the legislation would create a new program within the Department of Buildings where participating builders will be required to notify the Buildings Department when work has stalled and to develop and submit a detailed safety monitoring and inspection plan to ensure the site is secure.
Developers participating in the new program would be allowed to renew building permits at stalled sites for up to four years, as long as the program's safety requirements are met, providing a significant incentive to participate in the program and increase safety at stalled sites.
Permits at stalled sites often expire, forcing developers to start the permitting process from the beginning after new financing is secured, which delays restarting construction and depresses economic activity.
Under the legislation, the safety monitoring plan—required for developers to participate in the program— must include: proposed measures for preventing access by unauthorized persons and monitoring such measures, schedules for inspecting the job site, details for implementation of fire and building safety measures required to protect New Yorkers and first responders and any other provisions the DOB deems necessary to ensure safety at the stalled site.
Currently, construction permits expire and become invalid if the work authorized by the permit has not begun within 12 months of permit issuance or if work is suspended or abandoned for a period of 12 months. Further, if work is suspended for a period exceeding two years, a developer may not be able to achieve any reinstatement of the permit. By agreeing to the increased safety standards, developers would avoid the delays and negative consequences of permit expiration. Participating developers can have permits renewed for two two-year cycles.
Inspectors from the Department of Buildings have identified more than 138 construction sites across the five boroughs that are inactive. The Buildings Department regularly inspects the stalled sites and developers are required to immediately address any safety issues that arise from the lack of activity, such as deteriorated fences, damaged safety netting or loose construction debris. Developers who fail to maintain safe conditions on their job site are subject to violations carrying penalties as high as $25,000.
8 comments:
It's funny, but I don't remember many articles about this. Would be nice if the press followed these two more closely.
This explains what I am seeing all over my neighborhood. No wonder they just sit there. I thought it was lack of demand or lack of money to finish. Now I now regulations play a part too. Unfortunately, half the builders don't care what the laws are.
Most of these cottage builders lack the money.
Yet another example of how your local city councilman is cutting back on services, hollowing out your community, only to throw your tax dollars away from your children's mouths into the gluttonous gullet of the real estate developers.
Be nice if they can invest it back into the community like they did 50 years ago, but they just squander it on alimoney for multiple wives and their daughters wild vacations.
Anonymous said...
It's funny, but I don't remember many articles about this. Would be nice if the press followed these two more closely.
++++++++++++++++++++++++LOL! power twins are running the show and the question IS --who owns whoM ? quiNN one steered the vote for a 3rd term aaaaaaand bloomboig let quinns financial finagling evaporate-
Any developer who runs out of money and can't finish his project should have a 30-day time out to try to raise the money. After 30 days, the site should be bulldozed and that space should be used as a green space or area for residential parking. Residents can't park on their blocks anymore because of all the illegal basement apartments and overdevelopment. Homeowners pay taxes -- lots of them -- and should at least have a parking space at the end of their long working day. I have no sympathy for these developers. If they run out of money -- too bad. It's always about the money. Glad they are having a tough time. Just delighted!
These are real nasty blights. Perfect homes for rats and maybe potential squats as well. Clean em up.
great old mazeau street, still looking the same and nothing is getting done. this is what happens when your nephew works as council..... this man should be thrown in jail or at least deported the fxxk out of the USA.. not only in maspeth but a lot of folks in bayside want mr. haung balls......
NYC does shit to stop this from destroying a nice block..
Well, excuse me!!
All this time I thought developers were following the letter of the law for safety features completely. Who'd have thought they'd go the cheap route and figure they'd get away with it! Now Chris & Bloomy want to give them another chance to continue ruining our neighborhoods...oh my gosh. These developers know what the deal is and know the laws inside out so who the biggest liar in these situations!!!! Let the phony permits expire, make the developers pay more money or force them to remove the horror they'd put upon honest & hardworking homeowners. I'm so sick & tired of the liberal politicians who feel sorry for these bums. We've all worked hard for what we've got and these jerks purchase property in nice decent communities and the s**t all over us. Everything is for the developer and the communities be damned. I guess being an honest person doesn't stand a chance when it comes to our politicians and developers.
Post a Comment