Wednesday, March 11, 2015

New buildings built like crap

From the NY Times:

It took just three years for balconies to crack and concrete to flake from the facade of one Brooklyn condominium. Another building was prone to flooding, because the storm drainage system was never connected to the sewage system. With buildings rising at a pace not seen in years, some fear that shoddy construction could be making a comeback, too.

As developers feverishly break ground on projects to cash in on soaring property values, lawyers, architects and engineers say they are fielding more calls from residents complaining of structural defects in newly built homes. There is growing concern that some developers are repeating the mistakes of the last housing boom and delivering substandard product. As more residents settle into new buildings, the trickle of calls could soon turn into a flood.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll be pissed if I just finished paying so much money for a condo and it broke down within only a couple of years. It does make me wonder though how many of these condos are being rented out and owned by foreigners who don't even live in this country for half the year.

Anonymous said...

No kidding , Sherlock.

Anonymous said...

That's because the DOB rubber stamps approvals and allows inspectors to take bribes. Elected officials are doing NOTHING about it.

JQ said...

Edgewater NJ anyone?

The recent busts of all those building inspectors and shady contractors surely had a role in getting these "homes" up in a hurry,due to the rising demand of young narcissist dopes who don't ask any questions but need to live in the hottest spots.

In due time, the times will have similar stories about the masonry or lack there of in those new affordable luxury towers in LIC

A lot of these transients wanted to experience genuine NY living, well they don't have to live vicariously anymore. This is what NYCHA residents have to deal with everyday.

Dilapidated tenement apts., it was waiting for you

Anonymous said...

Buyer beware. All of this is readily visible to a home shopper. Cheap concrete and finish work. Cardboard thin plaster board walls. Garbage tile and plumbing work in bathrooms and kitchens. Do some homeowrk before you plunk down your million.

Anonymous said...

Every building that goes up is a LLC and by the time defects are discovered it has dissolved and there is no one left holding the bag.

r185 said...

There's a building near me in LIC (46th Ave ?), about six years old that's had scaffolding up three separate times to repair facade and windows.

Anonymous said...

If they're built like crap and fall down as a result, it saves the owner demolition costs.

Anonymous said...

how many of these condos are being rented out and owned by foreigners who don't even live in this country for half the year.
---
A lot more than we know. This plus the open door for immigrants is the real reason that we have this sudden housing crisis.

Anonymous said...

a bit of China in out very on backyard.

Oh, and dont worry. We are bringing over chinese to fill them. They dont complain as much.

Anonymous said...

No Zero-Energy homes/ buildings in nyc.