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May 13, 2008

Windsor Terrace Crew Flouting SWO?

Some weird—and possibly illegal and highly dangerous—stuff is going down at a construction site in Windsor Terrace. According to a message sent out to the Windsor Terrace Alliance email list, illegal demolition activity was occurring yesterday at 1216 Prospect Avenue, the old Elks Club building on Vanderbilt Street. Last week, according to the message, demolition "was shut down on 5/9/08 for illegal mechanical demolition with a Stop Work Order and 2 ECB violations issued by DOB. The property, legally, should have been demolished by hand, only allowing mechanical work once they reached the first floor. As of [yesterday], there has been a partial lift of the SWO to allow for remediation for safety concerns ONLY. Unfortunately the demolition company, Greco, has continued with illegal demolition. 311 has been called, DOB has been alerted. Seems the contractors have also been aggressive with a few of the neighbors, which is just down right wrong." Last night the DOB shut down the site again and ordered an evacuation of two adjacent buildings due to unsafe conditions. This morning, workers were on hand, but it wasn't clear what they were doing. One of the construction workers told us they were "demolishing the building." A DOB enforcement employee was present and said he had no comment about whether the crews had engaged in demolition despite the SWO or what exactly they were being allowed to proceed with now. UPDATE: Here's the skinny from DOB. A Stop Work Order was indeed issued on Monday for illegal mechanical demolition. During the Monday inspection, DOB identified the hazardous conditions posed to the adjacent building by the partially-demolished wall. As a result, Buildings issued a vacate order for the adjacent building. The work being done today was in fact remedial work that the contractor was required to do so that residents could return next door. Tomorrow, the contractor must perform some remedial flashing to bring the site up to snuff in the safety department. GMAP

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Comments

I was wondering what was going on - I live nearby and pass the site to and from work. Yesterday and this morning the DOB has been there. I am no structural engineer but it doesn't take a genius to know by looking at this place that it is not safe - looks like a swift wind could take down the rest of the building.

Posted by: katiem633 at May 13, 2008 11:48 AM

Does anyone know what is going to happen on this site? townhouses? apartments?

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 12:53 PM

This area of WT could use some amenities, especially along Prospect Avenue: a pharmacy, a decent deli, even a bank. Is the corner of Vanderbilt and Prospect zoned for commercial?

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 1:54 PM

What's the going rate to buy off a DOB enforcer these days?

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 2:15 PM

The Stop Work Order is now a Temporary Stop Work order which allows for the demolition to continue without the use of the backhoe (non mechanical). You can see they "made an error" on the permit application... They checked NO for mechanical demolition...

This is a R5B zoned lot with a commercial overlay. There are no new building permits, but this job smells like Bricolage Design, Inc to me. Did the demo contractor bother to post his construction sign?

Just for the record, It's the BEST SQUAD that enforces demolition work. You can call them direct right after you call 311. Or you could call the owner and complain.

Name: PETER NICKITTA
Relationship to Owner: OWNER
Business Name: PROSPECT VANDERBIL LLC. Business Phone: 718-449-1665
Business Address: 215 BATH AVENUE BROOKLYN NY 11214

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 2:21 PM

2:21, what do you mean when you say it's a Bricolage job? just not sure what that connotates?

Thanks, Todd

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 3:02 PM

can't these guys be arrested or fined or have their licenses revoked or something. they're breaking the law, right? over and over...

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 4:02 PM

I always dreamed of turning that old Elks Club into a Death Metal club. Oh well.

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 7:29 PM

Same old BS from Greco Demo.

Swoop in and attempt to knock the building with a front end loader before DOB gets wise and shuts them down.

Looks like the neighborhood, and DOB, got wise and had this knuckleheads booted.

Supposedly (according to some list serves I glommed), the DOB originally allowed the temporary lift of the SWO to clean up the site and make it safe. Seems the boys at Greco continued with demolition until DOB showed up again, this time worrying of a building collapse (see post on the blog from July "18-20 Jackson Pl") and vacated adjoining properties.

When is this BS going to stop? No time soon, I'm sure untill he DOB gets the enforcement teeth (guns & cuffs in my book) to kick these bad-boys out of town.

Posted by: Action Jackson at May 13, 2008 8:04 PM

Husband and I always dreamed of turning that Elks Club back into a little movie theatre (which it apparently once was): a local version of the old Theatre 80 St. Marks, with afternoon silent-movie classics for kids, funky curated revival double bills, Saturday morning vintage serials, and famous real fresh popcorn with real butter. Of course it would lose money horribly, but we would have run it after winning the lottery and simply subsidized it as a labor of love. This fantasy was so persistent and potent for me (I pass the building daily taking my kid to school) that I actually let out a little cry of sorrow upon seeing the big machines tearing it down.

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at May 13, 2008 11:05 PM

What is planned for this site? When I see such disregard for the neighbors in the site prep, it pretty much convinces me that a piece of crap is going up. Oh, and it's not criminal to breach DOB rules, even though it's dangerous and deadly--those people who were evacuated have to take civil action to get relief. Good luck with that. This city has sold its soul to some real low-life developers.

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 11:09 PM

It was a movie theater, and a nice rental space for Elks club members. They just wanted so much money for the building it had to be to attract developers. Nothing like flipping the old hood the bird on your way out.

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 11:11 PM

How can you get upset about an increase in value of property upon completion of a new job? As opposed to a ruin down building that existed there. Dollars and sense sometimes must come in to play, we all beneift in the end when our property value goes up.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 6:53 AM

If you wanted to turn the site into a movie theatre then why not buy the property yourself?.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 7:00 AM

im actually a local renter and i cant wait to see the new dwellings when they are complete. im very intrested in buying a new apartment. the rent im paying for a small apartment in a OLD HOUSE could be a mortgage payment in a new apartment.. i am all for the change..

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 8:32 AM

the area is not zoned for commercial. its zoned for residential only. i hear that they are gonna be beautifull 3 family style homes and depending on how the market is will determine if they go condos or not.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 8:58 AM

6:53 It seems like property values have increased despite the fact that a run down building existed on the corner! Lets hope the values keep going up so that the next door neighbors can offset their $20,000 legal fees when their old foundations crumble.

11:11 I'm not so troubled by the fact that the previous owners "wanted so much" for their building as I am by the fact that the new owners seem to care so little about the neighboring property. The LLC who hired Greco is the one thumbing their noses or flipping the bird at anyone who stands in their way of making a few more bucks by rushing the tear down and causing the emergency vacate order.
Com. Lancaster (RIP) established a special inspection team (besides BEST) to handle rouge demolition companies like Greco. I would like to see some follow through here. (Some disruption of their business models as she used to say) I mean this kind of blatant hubris by unsafe contractors during a time of stepped up enforcement and DOB inspections makes me wonder...

I thought SWO's were now also being enforced by the police department? The 72nd? I have to agree with Action Jackson. We won't see any compliance until the guy on the back hoe and his boss spend the night in jail.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 8:58 AM

Legal fees? thats the american way. Always looking to make a quick buck off of the people who actually put there time in.

If these people deserve to spend a night in jail b/c they are building new homes for people instead of looking at a eye sore, then I would hate to see what you recomend to a man collecting soda cans from garbage pails.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 9:08 AM

actually the owners showed up to the town meeting last night at Loonieville to explain the exaggerated situation as well as the neighbors from the property attached to the demolitioned site. Were you there? didnt look like the owners were flipping their bird. the owners are very nice men that did not have to show up but did to clear up any rumors that are circulating. they were also chatting happily with the neighbors next door and the neighbors also said the owners of the site were very nice and cooperative instead of turning their backs.. the owners spoke and answered every question that was asked. one of the concerns were parking and the new proposed site has a parking space for each apartment.

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 9:11 AM

I feel bad for the builder too. The sub-contractors are licenced & insured it should be their problem. I think the builders should get a pat on the back for having the guts to build in a market like this. They are just working people trying to make a buck. Lately everyone seems to make the builders out to be criminals. If working is a crime then we are all in the wrong country.

"AFTER ALL CONSTRUCTION IS THE BACK BONE OF THIS COUNTRY .... IT GENERATES MILLIONS OF JOBS A YEAR & HAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST IMPACTS ON THE ECONOMY"

Posted by: guest at May 14, 2008 5:39 PM

"HAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST IMPACTS ON..."

Destroying other people's property.

Greco are thugs, they acted like thugs and anyone who hires them (or the MMGs of the world) are thugs as well.

Track record speaks for themselves.

Not all builders are criminals, by a long shot, but there just seems to be a heavy concentration in Brooklyn. Sadly.

Posted by: Action Jackson at May 14, 2008 7:49 PM

REPLY "DESTROYING OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY"

HOW IS IT THAT YOU KNOW GRECO'S TRACK RECORD? WHAT HAS GRECO DONE EXACTLY TO BE CONSIDERED A THUG?

WHEN THE MARKET WAS BOOMING AND THE ECONOMY WAS GOING STRONG THERE WASN'T ANYONE COMPLAINING, NOW PEOPLE ARE HOME AND THEY HAVE TO MUCH TIME ON THERE HANDS.

Posted by: guest at May 15, 2008 6:45 AM

Tommy don't let these few rotten apples spoil the pie.Every job has it's problems and when that happens it's the challenge that makes you work harder at what your looking to do.Out of all the builders i work for you have to be the only one who actully cares about your finish product you take alot of pride in what you do and everyone posting comments should know that.So what ever you put on this site i know for a fact it's going to look beatiful as every other project you built in the past.yes it was unsafe what greco did but it was done and no one got hurt and nothing colapse so lets look pasted it and as a lesson learned to eveyone who builds.i'm happy to say i will be part of this prject.[MAKE PEOPLE EAT THERE WORDS SHOW THEM WHAT THE ART OF DEVELOPING REALLY MEANS]Pepole seem to forget what that neighborhood was like years ago and what it is grown to look like know.

Posted by: guest at May 15, 2008 12:02 PM

Posted by: guest at May 15, 2008 12:05 PM

"HOW IS IT THAT YOU KNOW GRECO'S TRACK RECORD?"

Call Bklyn DOB and just say the name "Greco" and see the response. If they don't laugh, then the will surely hang up the phone.

Any job with Greco's name on it as the demo and excavation company has tons of complaints and violation. Just check DOB's BIS.

Quite simple. And their recklessness has nothing to do with the market. Bad apples are bad apples, no matter the price.

Posted by: Action Jackson at May 15, 2008 2:00 PM

AJ seems like you have a personal problem with greco watch he does not come tear your house down from all the bs your writing about him.Everyone makes mistake some more then others it's a part of life.

Posted by: guest at May 17, 2008 10:25 AM

« Upscale Green Townhouses Coming to Bed Stuy Steiner Gives 80 Metropolitan Update »

May 13, 2008

Windsor Terrace Crew Flouting SWO?

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