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| Photo by Georgine Benvenuto |
The city has caught yet another contractor doing illegal construction in Bay Ridge. Workers from Manhattan contractor Fortuna Design and Construction Inc. got a permit to build a new four-story apartment building between Third and Fourth avenues but had zero approval from the city to knock down the two-story house that was already there, according to a spokesman with the Department of Buildings. They took down all but one wall, shocking locals who worry unsanctioned deconstruction could be harmful to nearby buildings — or neighbors’ health.
“I was stunned when I heard about this,” said Josephine Beckmann, district manager of Community Board 10. “Virtually the entire building was torn down without a permit. How is that done safely if there is no permit?”
Block residents and Beckmann herself complained to the city about the dubious demolition, so the Department of Buildings slapped workers with a stop-work order and issued a violation for the illicit tear-down, according to a buildings department spokesman. The Environmental Control Board will determine a penalty for the illegally abolished abode at an upcoming hearing, the rep said.
2 comments:
"How is that done safely if there is no permit?”
said Josephine Beckmann, district manager of Community Board 10
Such a brilliant statement- if only there were a piece of paper from some government entity of so called competent jurisdiction providing special dispensation, all would be wonderful, safe and sound! If only we had more pieces of paper from the government, the world could be perfect.
Reminds me of the many women who are sadly beaten or killed, even though they had a piece of paper called "an order of protection".
So this single wall, teetering upon the very precipitous of disaster, will remain as such for years until the government issues a piece of paper deeming it safe to proceed (for a large sum of money), or the hands of fate knock it down...
"How is that done safely if there is no permit?”
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Yeah, that part got to me as well. How does lack of 'government permission' mean its inherently unsafe? Conversely, having government permission doesn't automatically mean its safe.
In fact, even when you get approvals, permits, and plan reviews singed off by the city, the city states it is in no way liable if anything is wrong, even if the error is on their end.
Its said how so many people automatically latch on to the idea that the government is the be all end all. The solution to all problems, and our caretaker.
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