Forum Archive: Posts by: well_pHed

I live in an area that was landmarked last year. Over the past few months, I’ve noticed quite a few renovation projects going on around the neighborhood. A number of them have been facade and stair re-brownstonings, sidewalk repairs, repaintings and other things that, as I understand it, technically are required to be reviewed/approved by Landmarks. I never snooped into any of them, but I’m pretty sure none of the projects were landmarks approved. For the most part, these projects look okay in terms of the “character,” except that a number are pretty cheap-looking and sloppily done. I recently learned that a condo around the corner pulled up their bluestone sidewalk and replaced it with concrete, and apparently some neighbors reported it to landmarks and the community board. I am not sure what happened after that, but I think they have had to “answer” for the project to landmarks, etc. As far as I know no one else has been “reported on,” regardless of the character/quality of the renovation. I don’t really want to speculate as to why one building was narked on but not the others haven’t been, though I have my suspicions. My question is, how do other homeowners in landmarked districts deal with non-complying neighbors? Do you employ subjective judgment in whom you choose to nark on for potential landmarks violations? What criteria do you use?