Thursday, May 15, 2014

Who needs a DOB commissioner?

From NY Observer:

Mayor Bill de Blasio has yet to pick a new commissioner for the Department of Buildings nearly four-and-a-half months into his tenure, but that doesn’t seem to have affected the pace of construction in the city.

Construction approvals are up significantly in the first four months of this year compared to the same period in 2013, according to DOB records. Approvals for new buildings rose 38.2 percent over last year, with 500 permits issued versus 691, while approvals for demolition permits rose 24.8 percent, from 602 permits to 751.

The numbers are yet another sign of the city’s continuing recovery from the last recession, which stalled construction across the city, observers say.

The DOB also credited improvements in its own operations.

“The Department’s online permitting services are facilitating more approvals and we are seeing shovels hit the ground faster,” said a department spokeswoman. “This contributes to the growth of our city and translates into good paying construction jobs for New Yorkers.”

When it comes to approvals for new buildings, the borough of Queens saw the biggest increase, with 251 permits issued in the first four months of this year, versus 139 last year–an increase of 80.6 percent.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Let the overdeveloping of Queens continue....ready for more infrastructure that will not be taken Care of and will look like third world crap within the next 30-40 years. Ready for more slumlords?

Joe Moretti said...

“The Department’s online permitting services are facilitating more approvals and we are seeing shovels hit the ground faster,” said a department spokeswoman. “This contributes to the growth of our city and translates into good paying construction jobs for New Yorkers.”

When it comes to approvals for new buildings, the borough of Queens saw the biggest increase, with 251 permits issued in the first four months of this year, versus 139 last year–an increase of 80.6 percent.
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I think it contributes not to growth but more projects just sliding by without the DOB really looking into it. That would explain the jump in Queens, which probably has the worst record as far as crap being built that the DOB lets slide without really looking into the matter. Probably half of these have some type of violation from the get go.

And please stop saying it is due to growth or economic recovery. What economic recovery, maybe for the rich, but not for the rest of us working class people. As far as the growth, this is just people with money building shit we don't really need, more luxury condos.

We're Queens - We Can't Have Nice Things said...

What good-paying jobs? There's no way that all these people that do not even speak English are professional construction workers.

There's Fedders crap going up all over the place in Flooshing!

To be Third World would be step up for these hideous projects and renovations!

Anonymous said...

Looking for a lawyer(s) who hates the DOB as much as many of us do! We would like to explore the possibility of filing a Class Action Law Suit and/or a Special Negligence Suit Against the DOB and its Commissioners.

Somebody has to lead the way. The DOB needs to be dismantled, and the BSA along with it. There is much evidence to support that statement.

That's the Bottomline. They cannot be fixed.

The Agencies are dysfunctional and harmful.

What we do not need is yet another unqualified, expensive executive, who will more nothing more that hold the Title of Commissioner.

The DOB is an agency that has by all accounts gotten more dysfunctional. Now it takes 40 days to respond to what in many cases is a matter that needs an immediate response. That is unbelievable and inexcusable. At the same time, they keep streamlining and pushing through applications for permits. Applications that are professionally certified by "rogue" and "unscrupulous" architects, engineers, expediters and owners and developers

The City of New York, the DOB and their Commissioners, Inspectors, etc. need to be held accountable for their mistakes. Until that happens NOTHING will change.

They have in many instances done irreparable harm to the citizens of Queens. They have ruined lives and neighborhoods. Illegal and unsafe construction sites have been responsible for the loss of lives.

Group of individuals forced to sue owner/developers/general contractors for damages due to the Department of Buildings failure to protect them and safeguard their property want to recoup their legal fees and other losses.

This is a savvy group of individuals that have firsthand knowledge; documentation and the guts to go after the DOB.

Municipalities can be held accountable. We can file Class Action Suits and Special Negligence Suits. We need lawyers to take on the matters. All interested parties, please let us know how to contact you.

It's time. Otherwise, it ain't going to stop.

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