On Scarano, Mezzanine-Gate & DOB

loft Two more articles about Scarano came out last week, one a balanced portrayal of the issues at hand from Brooklyn Papers and one blow-job of a piece from the Brooklyn Eagle that sounds like it was spoon-fed by the controversial architect himself. Regardless of how the "Mezzanine-Gate" case plays out, we're just glad that a light is being shined on the DOB's woefully inadequate enforcement of its own codes. Hopefully the attention will result in greater resources being devoted to the agency and a greater culture of accountability. Now we just wish Eliot Spitzer would get off his ass and start investigating some of the cozy relationships between developers and the groups that are supposed to be keeping them in line. But, oh yeah, that would threaten his family's livelihood and alienate a crucial constituency right before his election.

Update: We just received an email from Spitzer's office letting us know that this afternoon he will be announcing the dismantling of a massive mortgage fraud ring affecting Crown Heights and Bed Stuy. Details to follow. Rock on.
City Charges Architect With Supersizing [Brooklyn Papers]
Architect Deplores Sameness [Brooklyn Eagle]

Comments

I am confused as to the advertised function of these mezzanines. Are they supposed to be entry foyers, large hallways, home offices or what? It doesn't look like it was intended as a bedroom, despite the presence of the bed in the above photo. In any case, looks like it should count as a room to me.

Posted by: Anonymous at April 25, 2006 9:56 AM

What relationships are you referring to?

Posted by: Anonymous at April 25, 2006 10:13 AM

The ones that get in the way of the DOB putting the shoddy developers out of business. We heard a story recently of a DOB official who, when asked by a soneone who'd phoned in a complaint why he wasn't shutting the developer down, said, "Hey, I only got two years left to my pension. I don't want to piss anyone off."

Posted by: Brownstoner at April 25, 2006 10:58 AM

That sounds like politics, not corruption. Corruption was when assessors were taking bribes fromproperty owners to lower asessments.

The reality is that developers wield a lot of political influence in this town. Bloomberg made no bones about his pro-developer views and was re-elected by a landslide. I'll give you dollars to donuts that you, 'stoner, voted for him.

In event, the city's department of investigation is a much better place report city corruption than the State AG.

Posted by: Anonymous at April 25, 2006 11:28 AM

My sense is that city government (DCP, DOB, Landmarks) is very much tied in with the go-go-go pro-development machine in the city. I'm not saying that the system is "corrupt," that it's something that Spitzer could go after even he wanted to. I just think the heart or basis of city government today is morally questionable. The free market idealogues tend to rule. Whom are they serving - the public, or moneyed interests? Far too often, it's the latter, in a knee-jerk fashion. (Or if they have to put a justification on it they cynically call it "economic development" in the wake of 9/11 (spend! spend! spend! go! go! go!) There isn't real policy-making go on. It's a big racket. Don't expect DOB to change anytime soon - the same problems have been there for years because at bottom, that's how the City wants it.

Okay, rant over.

Posted by: anon2 at April 25, 2006 11:33 AM

For Anon 9:56 - most of the mezzanines in questions are labeled "storage" or some such on DOB plans, thereby not counting towards the floor area of the building (allegedly). To not count as floor area, the ceiling heights have to be less than a certain height (7' or so - the exact height was mentioned in the Times article).

The caption to the photo above is misleading - obviously the ceiling height is much higher than 7'. This photo is of a duplex, not a mezzanine, and IS a bedroom, and (I'm pretty sure) does count as floor area. (The Arches was a church conversion - the duplex area shown is the upper part of the nave.)

Posted by: Anonymous at April 25, 2006 12:10 PM

That is awesome that Eliot Spitzer is on the case. He is sort of like a cartoon character, fighting injustice & corruption, etc.

Posted by: Anonymous at April 25, 2006 1:14 PM

First you have a woodie for Greenwood Cemetery, now Newspapers are giving blowjobs ... oral fixation anyone ? And I thought this was a family blog.

Posted by: will at April 25, 2006 1:19 PM

The issue here is illegal use of the FAR bylaws. Storage space, utility closet...or mezzanine with a BATHROOM?

Live by the sword, die by the sword. Hopefully he can admit to his illegality, take the horse pill of the violation with a slug of reality and start form scratch. The man should be able to practice his biz, just do it lawfully!

The OATH case is what will set the precedent, on this architect, and future ones...

Posted by: on the DL at April 25, 2006 9:00 PM

OATH? Wassat??

Posted by: Anonymous 12:10 at April 25, 2006 9:56 PM

London-born rapper Sway is to be honoured at the BET Hip-Hop awards in the US...

Posted by: William Christ at December 13, 2006 10:26 AM

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April 25, 2006

On Scarano, Mezzanine-Gate & DOB

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