Just to prove their incompetency, I recently filed a complaint with DOB in regards to an apartment building (16 units) at 89-28 170th Street going up on my block and doing illegal work on a Saturday without a variance permit. This happened before but of course when I filed that complaint, DOB eventually went out on a Saturday, saw no work being done and closed the case (how about going out when the damn complaint is filed). Well with the recent complaint (10.17.15), I took photos, described what was going on and here was the status from DOB (no variance permit required for 1-2 family dwelling):
The loophole here is that this lot has been subdivided and the 16 units are considered individually as eight 2-family homes, not a 16 unit apartment building, by the DOB. Why it's ok to work on a 2-family house without a variance permit, is a good question.
21 comments:
A perfect example of the kind of leadership our new mayor provides. He is wrecking our city.
Nothing to see here, keep moving...
This needs to go to the Department of Investigations ASAP. The Queens DOB needs an overhaul!!
Per data entry, the work is creating an R-2 building: "Residential Apartment House;" interestingly, the paperwork for the Certificate of Occupancy has not been scanned.
BTW the Applicant, NG, "self certified" objections when audited - among other things, "no plans"
Here's where it gets verrry interesting: "this job is not subject to the development challenge process" per the DoB. BS! It's a New Building. What gives?
If incompetence would hurt these people would be screaming!
One can hope....
What is a variance permit?
This must be paul vallones fault!!! See what I mean by this is a DOB issue, it's all throughout queens
This needs to go to the FBI's anti corruption unit as well.
The mob is heavily involved in the building trades and DOI is still a city department.
This needs federal action.
The DOB has been as crooked as a winding country road under ALL mayoral administrations, not just De Blasio's.
Depending on the DOI is like depending on the Chicago police department with Al Capone running the city.
An Elliot Ness was needed then. We need one now. Where is Prest?
Variance permit information
crappy i'm pretty bummed you would go out and say that two-family buildings need AHV permits. those are easily $500-$1000 per day between permits and expediting and all the other bullshit hoops that DOB makes people jump through. it's not so simple to say "oh, well have people work on it monday through friday". the owners who actually want to do things by the book, who want to use licensed and insured contractors, that's giving them the short end, because a licensed GC has all their guys working monday through friday on commercial jobs that can't get AHV's, and pay more by virtue of being commercial. saturday work for one-two families is good because it's literally the one fucking thing where the "honest john" isn't at a disadvantage compared to someone who's doing the work illegally. it's also not like 1-2 family houses (the vast majority) are gigantic fireproof structures where they're driving piles. they're stick houses getting new stucco. i really think you should reconsider your position on this.
-somethingstructural
I have learned a lot from this blog. Now when I see homes being expanded especially on the second floor. I know how to look it up and see if it is legal. On the other hand you make a complaint and DOB does nothing about. You can't win to lose.
"i really think you should reconsider your position on this."
It's not my position, it's a DOB regulation.
"they're stick houses getting new stucco."
These aren't stick houses, they're new construction. And stucco doesn't require a DOB permit. Please learn the regulations before spouting nonsense.
The reason this New Building has no Zoning Diagram is because the original filing was made in 2006 ...before the requirement for Zoning Diagrams came about in 2009.
You're right - Zoning Challenge effective date was in 2009; this job was filed in 2006; note that another NB job was entered in 2008 - and subsequently withdrawn in 2010. The permits on the'06 job weren't kept continuously active (probably because the plan was to build under the 2008 application); the job wasn't reinstated until 2010 - and the code had changed. There is enough meat here to initiate an inquiry, IMO, but you'd go nuts trying to get DOI to go after DoB.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
crappy i'm pretty bummed you would go out and say that two-family buildings need AHV permits. those are easily $500-$1000 per day between permits and expediting and all the other bullshit hoops that DOB makes people jump through. it's not so simple to say "oh, well have people work on it monday through friday". the owners who actually want to do things by the book, who want to use licensed and insured contractors, that's giving them the short end, because a licensed GC has all their guys working monday through friday on commercial jobs that can't get AHV's, and pay more by virtue of being commercial. saturday work for one-two families is good because it's literally the one fucking thing where the "honest john" isn't at a disadvantage compared to someone who's doing the work illegally. it's also not like 1-2 family houses (the vast majority) are gigantic fireproof structures where they're driving piles. they're stick houses getting new stucco. i really think you should reconsider your position on this.
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This is not a regular 1-2 family home as in the person is going to live there. The owner of this whole thing (all the units) will not live there (he lives in Woodside) and he will obviously rent out all the units and he will be the landlord, so this is complete bullshit. The landlord/owner is just attempting to skirt the issues. We are not talking about a separate 1-2 family house. And I am sure this person will attempt to cram some illegal apartments into the basement area. Just watch.
"Why it's ok to work on a 2-family house without a variance permit, is a good question."
That seems to illustrate your position as "It's ridiculous that DOB exempts two family houses from AHV permits". I don't want to put words in your mouth. Am I wrong?
"These aren't stick houses, they're new construction. And stucco doesn't require a DOB permit. Please learn the regulations before spouting nonsense."
Funny how I covered that already when I said "It's also not like 1-2 family houses (THE VAST MAJORITY) are gigantic fireproof structures where they're driving piles." And yes, ADDING stucco is exempt from permitting. Removing it is not. Patching any sheathing is not. Insulating windows is not. Repairing damage to fucking windowsills is not. Do you want me to keep going? C'mon dude I'm a NYS PE who comments here often enough.
-somethingstructural
Nowhere in the regulations I posted does it say 2 family homes are exempt. I did not take a position on it. And calm down.
Well I decided to dig through the code to find it. And here it is, in the Administrative Code:
" § 24-222 After hours and weekend limits on construction work. Except
as otherwise provided in this subchapter, it shall be unlawful to engage
in or to cause or permit any person to engage in construction work other
than on weekdays between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. A person may
however perform construction work in connection with the alteration or
repair of an existing one or two family owner-occupied dwelling
classified in occupancy group J-3 or a convent or rectory on Saturdays
and Sundays between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. provided that such
dwelling is located more than 300 feet from a house of worship. "
So everyone's a winner. Good job team, let's all have orange slices.
If you're going to call 311 again, have them take down the citation from the ADC. Since it's a NB permit it would NOT classify for the loophole Crappy outlined. Now, they can still file for the AHV permit and then you're screwed at that point, but at least this is some ammo in the meantime.
And Anthony Ng better watch himself, ear-to-the-ground I hear he's a few violations away from losing his ability to self-certify with the city.
-somethingstructural
By the way, go to the original posting on my blog and take a look at the one photo. It seems the owner of this big unit has dumped construction material on the adjacent property, it is right in the driveway. I filed that complaint and let's see how DOB handles that one.
"A person may however perform construction work in connection with the alteration or
repair of an existing one or two family owner-occupied dwelling
classified in occupancy group J-3 or a convent or rectory on Saturdays
and Sundays between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. provided that such
dwelling is located more than 300 feet from a house of worship. "
Note: "existing"; "owner-occupied" Also, it certainly appears that the DOB is issuing AHV Permits so that weekend work can be done outside of the 10 - 4 p.m. weekend hours
We need to focus on this aspect and do something about it if we can. The DOB is making money by indiscriminately issuing AHV permits to residential homeowners -- while we suffer.
§ 27-266 Occupancy group J-3. Shall include buildings occupied as
one-family or two-family dwellings, or as convents or rectories.
Clarification Needed: Does "owner-occupied dwelling" mean that they have to be presently living in it -- while construction is going on? If so, we need to hone in on that technicality. Many times the home is unoccupied during the construction process because they are adding an entire floor; extension, and other major renovations.
Residential renovation type of construction projects often are major. They are usually bought and owned by someone -- who after it is renovated -- is going to -- going to -- move into the home. Many times these particular projects have no regard for adjacent neighbors or surrounding neighbors. That is because they are racing to move in. These homeowners frequently and without regard ruin the Quality of our Lives. This needs to STOP.
These projects should not be given the ability to legally work outside the 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday - Friday timeframe. They tend to work vigorously on Weekends and at night at hours outside the Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Frequently, they are trying to avoid the DOB inspectors during the course of different phases of the construction process.
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