« The Failure of Metrotech, Eminent Domain and All Wassup with the Ballfields South of the Park? »

November 4, 2005

Permit Pulled at Scarano Site in Greenwood Hts

We've just received word that the DOB has revoked the building permit for 614 7th Avenue. Located at 23rd Street in Greenwood Heights, the 70-foot tall Scarano project received attention earlier this year for blocking Lady Minerva's views of the Statue of Liberty. We also received an email telling us that another worker was killed on a Scarano site yesterday--this one at 207 South 1st Street in Williamsburg--but have been unable to confirm. Anyone know anything?
Update: NYT reported yesterday that Heng Zheng, 50, fell to his death while placing cinderblocks on the third floor of the residential development.
Minerva versus Scarano, Revisited [Brownstoner]
A View To Be Killed [Brownstoner]
Worker Falls to Death [NY Times - 4th Item]




Posted by Brownstoner at 9:27 AM | Comments (20)
Categories: Development

Comments

I can confirm that a worker was killed at 207 South 1st., but I don't know if it is a Scarano project.
But even if it is, I don't see how he gets in the picture, does it matter now who does the plumbing, painting, and scraping?
Come on.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 9:46 AM

it does when there is no union.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 9:56 AM

If it were part of a larger pattern and culture of cutting corners, it would certainly be relevant.

Posted by: Brownstoner at November 4, 2005 9:56 AM

Developers are scrambling to beat the November 16th deadline, when the city council is going to ratify the down-zoning of South Park Slope side streets from 15th St to 23rd St. and upzone 4th Ave. Scareano, Katan, et all will only be able to petition the Board of Standards & Appeals after that in the hopes that they don't have to completely re-work their plans if their foundations aren't completely in at that point. Can you hear that sound...listen...that's the sound of developer's money going out the window as they realize how much more these projects are going to cost as they either head back to the drawing board, have delays, and make legal appeals to continue, all the while trying to build in a real estate market that is WELL on its way past prime. By the time they finish these projects in any form, the $600-$1000 a square foot they will hope to garner will laughable beyond expectation. They will get what they deserve, and they are scared to death about that. Watch them fight tooth and nail to get their way in this battle.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 10:16 AM

The only reason they can build these projects is because they are using very cheap labor. If they paid the going rate it would not be profitable. The job doesn't have to use union labor just pay the going rate. If you think about these buildings the same way you think about sweatshops you may reconsider buying into one of these condo developments. Their profit margin is so high that they can buy out entire blocks at twice the going rate for similar homes and still make a killing. DoB can shut them down but whats a few months to someone with deep pockets. There is no difference between a pair of shoes made in Vietnam by 14 year olds and a South Slope Katan condo development. Exploitation is exploitation. Sorry, there is one difference. The shoes are made better.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 10:43 AM

First, 207-209-211 South 1st Street is a Scarano project.

Secondly, yes there are connections all over Brooklyn. The pattern of architects, parred with sub-par demo companies and then builders (let alone the developers) has become all too clear.

Many projects that Scarano's firm is the architect on record (and perhaps also the building consultant) are full of 311 complaints, many of which have DOB and ECB violations. While he, and others like Henry Radusky of Bricolage Designs, are not doing the demo, pouring and nailing personally, they are aligning themselves with sub-par contractors...endangering workers, adjoining properties and folks in the community.

This is the SECOND death of a worker on a Robert Scarano based project (187 20th St.). How many more deaths will it take before DOB (and the Press) can put the pieces of the puzzle together?

Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at November 4, 2005 11:01 AM

One more sketchy development memory - 171 North 7th Street was a Scarano and Developer's Group project... that one, as some of you will recall, had such faulty construction that the framing actually collapsed onto the street in the middle of the night. That there were no deaths on that one was dumb luck; that it happened at all indicates shoddy construction.

Here's a thought: Scarano/Developers Group is so much worse than Ratner (Nets) b/c the two are so prolific that they are not ruining one blighted section of one neighborhood, they are destroying every neighborhood in Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Posted by: bburg sniper at November 4, 2005 1:03 PM

Posted by: bburg sniper at November 4, 2005 01:03 PM

and parts of Manhattan as well.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 4, 2005 2:46 PM

let us all get it striat.

Scorano – Architect
Developers Group – Marketing Consultant/Broker

These parties are not responsible for the ills of society they simply design and sell buildings. They are not substantially responsible for the construction, financing, acquisition, demo or zoning. They are merely a client of the developer.

Posted by: nit at November 4, 2005 2:56 PM

unfortunately, nit, architects are much more than mere clients of developers (much more so than brokers). Oftentimes the architect recommends the contractor to the developer and actively oversees the contractor's work to make sure that it conforms to the blueprints (they don't simply design the building - they are supposed to provide continuing oversigt of the construction).

Posted by: wit at November 4, 2005 3:49 PM

The developers group are synonomous with shoddy construction, unethical behavior and yes incompetance. I don't care what role they play in a project, they are horrible brokers and consultants!

Posted by: shaun at November 5, 2005 11:15 AM

I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT AS OF FRIDAY AT 5:00 PM THE DOB HAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO CONTINUE WORKING TO BUILD THAT AWARD WINNING STRUCTURE AT THE CORNER OF SEVENTH AVENUE AND 23RD STREET. A BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN CAREFULLY SCULPTED TO MAINTAIN THE HISTORIC VIEW CORRIDOR OF MINERVA AND OUR STATUE OF LIBERTY. A PROCESS THAT ALMOST CAUSED THIS ICONOCALASTIC BUILDING FROM BEING BUILT. VESTING IS A WONDERFUL THING IN THE RIGHT HANDS. IT IS A WONDER THOUGH HOW CERTAIN PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT WITH THEIR UNDERHANDED BACK DOOR POLITICS THEY PLAY. BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.

Posted by: ROBERT SCARANO at November 5, 2005 6:28 PM

I find it quite humorous when people who have never gone through the laborious process of getting a building permit act like a DOB action is some sort of scandal. On almost every construction project, the DOB requires changes, often even AFTER they have approved the original plans and work has begun. I'm not sure what the story is on the 23rd Street project, but I'm sure it would be interesting to hear.

Posted by: Shahn Andersen at November 5, 2005 9:23 PM

The scandal Mr Andersen, is that private citizens are now reviewing/auditing plans because the DoB has been unable or unwilling to serve and protect the people. Now that design professional can Self Certify, the Dob does not review plans before issuing permits. Like our tax codes, the building and zoning rules and regulations have many legal loopholes that can be taken advantage of to maximize one's profits. When the DoB is "forced" by public outcry or protest to audit a building's plans they are more than likely to find something not to code. Self Certification depends on the honor system to function, and we are beginning to see the failure of this program. Poorly organized communities, ignorant of their ability to have a say in the planning of their local neighborhoods, are powerless against real estate speculators. What you are seeing in Greenwood Heights is the exact opposite. Native citizens are using every legal means to save their lands from speculators who mine the gold and leave the trailings and misery behind in big arsenic laced slag heaps. Greenwood=Deadwood, so to speak. Scar-ano is just unlucky to have set up his saloon on the wrong side of the street.

Posted by: starkitec at November 6, 2005 2:04 AM

"IT IS A WONDER THOUGH HOW CERTAIN PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT WITH THEIR UNDERHANDED BACK DOOR POLITICS THEY PLAY."

If ain't the kettle himself.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 7, 2005 12:00 AM

ONE LOOK AT SCARANO's SITE AND YOU CAN SEE HOW HIS PHOTO HAS HIM LOOKING LIKE A BiT PLAYA FROM THE FILM "GOOD FELLAS." JUST A THUG IN A SHARK SKIN SUIT. ALSO, HIS BUILDINGS ARE FUGLY.

Posted by: Anonymous at November 7, 2005 8:17 AM

TODAY IS THE DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION AND A WONDERFUL DAY TO BUILD. I HOPE OUR FINE BLOGGERS GET OUT THERE TODAY AND TRY TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF THE BITTER ANTISOCIAL INDIVIDUALS THEY ARE NORMALLY.

SCARANO

Posted by: ROBERT SCARANO at November 7, 2005 8:29 AM

UPDATE: DOB's BIS system lists 614 7th Ave. "permit revoked" now as "audit conditionally accepted."

We are attempting to find out if there is a way for the plans & property to be vested under R6 with this condition. They will definitely goto the BSA if it's not the case. I find it remarkable that in 3 days the multiple objects to the plans we heard about (via the grape vine) were able to be satisfied.

But a large staff and a "take no prisoners" style of business must "getter dun."

Any additional info on this or discourse is appreciated. Perhaps the prolific architect himself can shed further light on the topic?

Posted by: lostinbrooklyn at November 9, 2005 6:01 PM

THANKS FOR ALL THE ATTENTION. IT ONLY MAKES OUR WORK THAT MUCH MORE REWARDING. I HOPE THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO TRIED TO DERAIL THE JOB WILL ONE DAY APPRECIATE THE STRUCTURE THAT WILL ANCHOR THIS ONCE BLIGHTED CORNER OF NOWHERE.

FOUR DAYS AND COUNTING TILL THIS STORY IS CLOSED.

I KNOW ALL THOSE THREE STORY FRAMES ARE GOING TO LOOK JUST PERFECT NEXT TO THOSE GIANT 50 FOOT HIGH COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTEXT R-6B BUILDINGS. I WILL ESPECIALLY LIKE THE CANYON THAT WILL BE 4TH AVENUE AND ALL THE LITTLE FRAME HOMES NEXT TO THEM FROM 23RD STREET TO THE EXPRESSWAY. GOOD JOB GUYS I HOPE YOU LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE CREATED.

ROBERT

Posted by: ROBERT SCARANO at November 12, 2005 6:28 PM

clomid http://www.noonhost.com/clomidsideeffec/clomid http://www.gogetforum.com/clomid/clomid.html

Posted by: clomid at June 30, 2006 2:12 AM

Post a comment

Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.

Latest Restaurant Additions