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June 22, 2007

In Sunset Park, Allegations of Dirty DOB Inspectors

551_39th%20St.jpg
We hear that things are getting nasty on 39th Street in Sunset Park where a contractor has enraged an entire block of residents and the conduct of two DOB inspectors has spurred one neighboring family to file a complaint with the Department of Investigation. The ugliness stems from the construction of a new three-story warehouse at 551 39th Street which got off to a bad start when the contractor tore down the elderly neighbor's fence without permission. We're a little foggy on the details and chronology of what happened next, but, according to their story and photos presented at recent Community Board 7 meetings, it allegedly involved the police, lots of 311 calls, and a suspiciously high level of cooperation between said buildings inspectors and the contractor/developer in question. There's now a petition floating around and, so far, DOB seems to be taking a hands-off approach to what they see as a he-said-she-said dispute. Maybe someone who lives in the area or was at the CB meetings can help fill in the details. GMAP P*Shark DOB




Posted by Brownstoner at 8:59 AM | Comments (7)
Categories: DOB, Sunset Park

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Comments

Amazing that DOB and DOI don't use sting operations anew to clean up the inspectors. Every contractor in the city is bribing a DOB inspector several times a year. Is this like gambling in Casablanca? Or is this like kids taking drugs? The former takes place with approval of authorities, the latter transpires with authority figures in a state of denial. They always said that city officials know how to manage upwards. That is the key trait for a successful city employee.

Posted by: Joe Contractor at June 22, 2007 10:30 AM

This a reverse of Mr. B's report of the DOI sting on a developer earlier in the week?

While I feel there have been vast improvements in the Bklyn DOB and its inspectors, perhaps some internal auditing (or external via DOI) when inspectors get "cosy" is in order.

Posted by: ActionJackson at June 22, 2007 11:25 AM

From the picture it looks like it is possible that the elderly gentleman’s fence is encroaching on the space of the adjacent property.

Don't jump to conclusion and just assume the constructor is guilty...

Posted by: Anonymous at June 22, 2007 11:53 AM

The contractor tore his fence down and built their construction fence on his property, not the other way around. It's obvious as you walk down the street.

Anon 11:53 am, have you been on 39th St.?

So don't just judge it by the photo, though it seems pretty clear to me.

Posted by: SSPwalker at June 22, 2007 12:10 PM

How simple would it have been for the contractor to make some agreement with the property owner next door to build him a new fence when this things over... maybe a little extra cash for using some of his property, or fixing his sidewalk.. some small token to acknowledge the fact that construction is a pain. To do this before they start work. Why take the chance of disrespecting some old timer. Unfortunately that's too late now. As for the DoB, if there is anything we should all know by now, the DoB won't do anything until after someone drops a cinderblock on that guy on the bench.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 22, 2007 2:59 PM

"How simple would it have been for the contractor to make some agreement with the property owner next door to build him a new fence when this things over."

Dead on, but I bet never happened. Or, after the damage was done, as in most of these cases documented on this blog.

Always too little, too late, in my book.

Posted by: ActionJackson at June 22, 2007 11:50 PM

Seems DOB may have changed their minds on this one...SWO due to improper protection to the sidewalk and adjacent property. Guess the photo, and another inspection, says a thousand words.

http://tinyurl.com/28xd5e

Posted by: ActionJackson at June 25, 2007 10:46 AM

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