317_16th_St_0808.jpg
A buyer at 317 16th Street in Windsor Terrace South Slope wrote to lament the continued delays at the site. “To date, the building is 75% in contract, but as a buyer I can say we have little to show for it. I went into contract back in November and have been told to expect a TCO since January.” Some delays were courtesy of DOB red tape, including an electric violation from 1987 and unsatisfactory fire alarm testing. In May, the buyer got a reassuring email from the developers, Angel Group NY: “We have passed all of our inspections and received all our signoffs necessary for a TCO. We have submitted the folder to DOB in order to obtain the TCO. This process usually takes about two weeks. It is possible that it may take a little longer as many times DOB comes back and says they lost a form and need it resubmitted.” Actually, the DOB issued a temporary C of O on August 8th&#8212they’re still waiting for developers to fix that pesky fire alarm situation. Neither brokers nor developers returned requests for information, but Streeteasy lists five more units for sale. Will these delays scare new buyers off, and will current buyers prevail? “I’m beyond tired of being told about delays due to negligence,” says our beleaguered buyer. “Is this an issue for the Better Business Bureau?” What do you guys think?


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. This is another one of those plastic and styrafoam covered buildings.
    Since we are talking about waiting for the pesky fire alarm tests, does anyone know what the fire rating is for that plastic stucco? Seems like it would produce a real toxic smoke if it ever catches fire.

  2. his is another one of those plastic and styrofoam covered buildings. Since we are talking about waiting for the pesky fire alarm tests, does anyone know what the fire rating is for that plastic stucco they seem to be using all up and down 16th

  3. This street is in the fuzzy area that could be called South Slope or WT or Greenwood. StreetEasy calls it Gowanus for some listings, WT for others on the very same block. It’s weirdly appropriate that the architecture is so polyglot/pastiche.

  4. well, i bought without the CofO in place – i prepared for the worse, but they got it on schedule. in year’s past, it was very hard to find the place you wanted and not jump on it. partly because prices would just kept going up as the buildings were getting completed. and, because buildings were selling out.

    even now, i wouldn’t necessarily worry about buying if youlike the place and the price is right. just have a back up plan if you need to wait. i have friends who just bought in a condo building pre CofO, and even in this downturn, the building sold out quickly. sometimes, the apts are really good, and even though there’s inventory out there, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s tons of inventory of what you need/want at a price you can afford.

  5. I walk along the street of sorrow
    The boulevard of broken dreams
    Where gigolo and gigolette
    Can take a kiss without regret
    So they forget their broken dreams

    You laugh tonight and cry tomorrow
    When you behold your shattered schemes
    Gigolo and gigolette
    Wake up to find their eyes are wet
    With tears that tell of broken dreams…

  6. y00phemism: You can’t have a condo association until people actually close on units. That being said, the only leverage people will have is if they have any “out” clauses in their own contracts.