From the Times Ledger:Two Bellerose civic leaders are claiming the city Department of Buildings is dragging its feet to enforce what they contended were violations on two two-family homes being constructed in the neighborhood.
Angela Augugliaro, president of the Queens Colony Civic Association, said the homes at 87-28 Commonwealth Blvd. have a partial stop-work order so the developer can correct safety issues with the buildings. But she said work beyond the safety concerns are being addressed. She also had other concerns about the property.
“We’ve asked for an audit, we’ve asked for an inspector to look at it and they’ve done nothing,” she said, referring to the DOB. “I just don’t understand the Buildings Department anymore. I feel they’re not doing their job.”
A visit to the site Tuesday morning did not find any workers performing construction.
Dharminder Singh, the developer of the homes, could not be reached for comment.
The homes are being built adjacent to property owned by St. Gregory the Great Church on Commonwealth Boulevard in Bellerose. The church and the developer were involved in a dispute with St. Gregory’s claiming the homes’ property line encroached on its land.
It was found that the church’s survey was correct and Singh shaved off two feet from the property line, but Augugliaro and former Community Board 13 chairman and Bellerose Commonwealth Civic Association member Richard Hellenbrecht said the property is still in violation by about two feet.
The homes are supposed to be 4 feet away from the property line with St. Gregory’s.
Augugliaro said a construction fence was taken down from the property, which she said is another violation.
9 comments:
Solomon would have ruled "shave off 4 feet from the building". If it cannot stand because the building would be weakened, the structure should be torn down!
Put Developers on notice to abide by code, law, surveys etc. Tear it down, nothing short, would be acceptable.
What's the remedy? The developer took the risk of being wrong on the property line, so tear it down.
"Developer was unavailable for comment"
Coward.
Is Mr. Singh here legally? Has anyone checked his credentials? Obviously he is not up to speed on the property rules. Maybe Mr. Singh should be investigated along with the DOB. Due to their inactivity, it sounds like they are being paid off. I hope St. Gregory's wins. These developers are out of control.
Is Mr. Singh here legally? Has anyone checked his credentials? Obviously he is not up to speed on the property rules. Maybe Mr. Singh should be investigated along with the DOB. Due to their inactivity, it sounds like they are being paid off. I hope St. Gregory's wins. These developers are out of control.
This is similar to whats going on all around Bellerose!! What is it with this nationality building HUGE ugly buildings that do not belong in a residential neighborhood of small homes. And why do they get away with fudging the Zoning laws?? My block now is starting to look like an inner city block with the 3 houses next to ours. There's constantly garbage around the houses. The property looks unkept and is completely out of place with the rest of Bellerose. Horrible. This is just one of the main reasons that once my daughter leaves for college this fall I am out of there!
Goodbye, Ilona.
Just another homeowner that runs away instead of fighting. Betcha five years ago you were complaining about neighbors that moved away too.
Normally I would agree with you Rick but the situation in Bellrose and the surrounding areas has become a bit ridiculous. I was once enamored with the lushious green manicured lawns that differentiated Bellrose from the rest of Queens but now they are all but non-existent, replaced instead with hideous stucco and concreate.
Two single family homes on my block have been demolished. These developers are getting away with murder, building homes on top of each other with no regard for zoning. They demolish a single family home to build two seprate houses on one lot. And some people rent to 2-3 families. Many residents have complained and the NYC Dept. Of Housing Preservation and Development have done nothing to stop this practice.
I understand llona's plight. This neighborhood has changed too drastically over the years. After witnessing too many battles I too am ready to pack my bags. This is not the lifestyle I signed up for.
This what I read and fell from the article and its comments to date:
1. Misdirected anger at a builder building a pretty nice looking house, judging from your pictures.
2. Someone creating valuable jobs in a desperate job market.
3. New housing where unused land stood before.
4.Petty issues asking for outrageous penalties like "tear it down".
A lot of comments from people who probably never built anything in their lives and resent change of any sort. Why don't you guys tear all of your houses down and revert back to local farms like "the good old days"? Everyone likes local farms. Then we'd have a bunch of good apples........................
Can any of you spell b-i-g-o-t?? Try h-a-t-r-e-d.
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