Appoqqiatura you are a paraniod, mis-informed person. This story clearly is about the DEP, not the DOB. Regardless, Inspectors are not supposed to reveal the source of a complaint. Most of the time they don't know themselves. If they are divulging the complaintants information, they should be reported.

Posted by: Low_Talker338 at May 4, 2009 5:48 PM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

If they were Runes from Middle Earth, they would be Dwarf Runes in Dwarfish.

Posted by: Low_Talker338 at May 4, 2009 5:32 PM in response to Closing Bell: Elvish Tagging in Greenpoint?

Watty and Meg on Court & Kane got a food delivery this morning. Though we were very sad to see the Italian place (as we fondly refrered t it) go under, we are excitedly anticipating the new place steps from pur door.

Posted by: Low_Talker338 at April 30, 2009 9:38 AM in response to Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up

Since the Buildings Department does not own the site it is very difficult for it to order work to be done to make it safe. The only tools Building Inspectors carry are pens. There is talk about addressing the growing concern about abandoned construction sites, but again it is a question of owner responsibility. Since there is no Certificate of Occupancy on buildings under construction, which designates them as multiple dwellings, HPD will not get involved with remedial actions either. This one is for higher powers to decide what can be systematically done with projects where the contractor has walked away.

Posted by: Low_Talker338 at March 13, 2009 11:17 AM in response to 53 Bridge Street: An Accident Waiting to Happen?

Keep an eye on the permits to the property, a site abandoned for six months or more should be back filled. Call 311, your Community Board leaders, your City Council member and the Mayors office to get noticed especially if the fence is in disrepair or there is standing water in the foundation/excavation.

Posted by: Low_Talker338 at February 9, 2009 7:21 PM in response to Abandoned construction sites

The Zoning Resolution writes the regs on driveways and off-street parking requirements. The Zoning Resolution can be found on the Department of City Planning website. If you can find your Certificate of Occupancy (if you have one) it can tell you what Zone you are in and what the requirments are for your driveway. It's also possible your house pre-dates the resolution and should be "grandfathered" for its present configuration. Considerations also can be made if you bought the property in its present condition.

Posted by: Low_Talker338 at February 9, 2009 7:14 PM in response to ECB Violatiion Private Driveway

You do not need a permit to re-roof from the DOB as roofing is considered non-structural manintainence. You may need a "Certificate of No effect" from Landmarks. If you hang scaffolds or erect scaffolding above 40 feet or erect a sidewalk shed, you will need a Department of Buildings Permit. Otherwise, be safe and good luck. Finding a good contractor should not be too difficult in this economy.

Posted by: Low_Talker338 at February 9, 2009 7:05 PM in response to Is a permit needed to re-roof?

The bottom line: you change the room count or secondary means of egress (aka the fire escape access): that is an Alteration Type 1 and you MUST get a permit. The problem is not how you intend to use the space, but what happens after you sell and others turn your open rooms into SRO's. And then what happens when there's a fire and fire fighters become trapped and are forced to jump from windows when they are blocked from the fire escape as happened in the Bronx a few years ago? Think people. Think. FDNY and DOB are aggressively prosecuting this at this time.

Posted by: Low_Talker338 at January 13, 2009 9:37 AM in response to Building a 2nd room (frm a jr-4)

Generally the tile walls that look sound may become unsound once you begin to remove the defective tile. It is also easier for workers to demolish the whole thing rather than try to work around and preserve what is sound. Good luck finding someone that sensitive, but with work slowing down, contractors may be willing to do as you wish. Make sure you get a licensed contractor. No permit is required for removal and replacement of tile, but once you go into replacing or removing studs and plumbing supply or waste lines, you need a permit from DOB.

Posted by: Low_Talker338 at January 13, 2009 9:24 AM in response to Can Tile Be Removed From a Wall?

Digging could "test pits" which help to establish soil type and stability so proper earthwork and foundation plans can be drawn up pusuant to obtaining a permit.

Posted by: Low_Talker338 at December 11, 2008 6:39 PM in response to L&M Finishes Demo, Starts to Dig at 110 Warren Street

Low Talker, I am talking about removing all the tiles and putting up new ones. One of the contractors reviewed positively here was over last night and said it could be done..stay tuned.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 13, 2009 12:33 PM in response to Can Tile Be Removed From a Wall?

Low Talker you are great and so deeply helpful. The violation said it was because it was in an R6 Zone. I don't have my C of O because there is not one, but Finance bills me as a 2 Family, which I am. When was the resolution passed about driveways? Also I bought the property this way. The house dates from 1923 and I suspect the driveway has been here since the previous owners who had it almost 30 years. Do you present this stuff at a hearing? When you say "considerations" who makes them. I mean it was such a shock to get this violation.

Posted by: Artdis at February 9, 2009 8:36 PM in response to ECB Violatiion Private Driveway

Many of these driveways in Brooklyn were cut in without permits. I'm sure that you have no way to tell if the prior owner installed it one year before you purchased the house or if it had been there for decades.

With parking being so tough all over and people ignoring the law and placing curb cuts where ever and when ever they want, I'm glad to hear that the ECB is finally doing something better than ignoring the violations.

That being said, if I were you, I would try to establish the fact that the driveway had been there before you purchased the house (as far back as you can).

Between 1939 and 1941 all houses in NYC were photographed. Copies of these photos can be purchased here:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/taxphotos/home.shtml

If you can establish that the driveway/curb cut had been there, you might get the violation dismissed as a 'grandfathered' driveway there before the 1962 zoning resolution.

Posted by: SenatorStreet at February 10, 2009 11:18 AM in response to ECB Violatiion Private Driveway

Zoning text is available here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/zone/zonetext.shtml
There’s an illustration of driveway regulations at this link:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/sigrowth/driv_curb_parking_rules.pdf

Posted by: vinca at February 10, 2009 11:38 AM in response to ECB Violatiion Private Driveway

This is an example of the 'New" buildings department....lots of summons issued.

Posted by: smeyer418 at February 10, 2009 6:17 PM in response to ECB Violatiion Private Driveway

If the violation is a class 3 and there is a cure date on it, then if you comply within that period there will not be a penalty for the violation. There is also a possibility to stipulate for a lower penalty if you need more time.
Good luck

Posted by: consultmbr at February 11, 2009 11:33 AM in response to ECB Violatiion Private Driveway

doesn't the title search bring up the curb cut?

Posted by: bqe1970 at February 11, 2009 7:53 PM in response to ECB Violatiion Private Driveway

I have dealt with DEP several times. They are mostly a bunch of wimps/lazies who will try to avoid issuing summons/fines etc unless the noise exceeds the limit consistently with several dbs (at least 5). Keep bugging them.

Posted by: MaplewoodGuy at May 5, 2009 2:45 AM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

Keep bugging the DEP. The complaints are anonymous. They will come measure at your place. The problem with approaching the owner directly is then that they'll know for sure it was you who complained. Get your neighbors involved, too, if you can. I agree that the business should be more careful from the outset about compliance with noise code, rather than putting the burden on residents to complain. If you don't want the DEP to come, you can hire an independent co. to come measure the noise, but I hear it's $$$. Whoever services the unit should have a way to measure the noise to see if the system is in compliance, I would think -- ?? Good luck.

Posted by: meerkatz at May 5, 2009 1:18 PM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint

I like being direct and adult and everything, but I don't think it's unsociable to call 311 at all. I think it's often savvy. It's often a good idea to minimize person-to-person conflict near your home. Allowing the police or the DEP to handle your conflicts for you is often an effective de-personalizing tool.

Posted by: vanburenproud at May 5, 2009 5:44 PM in response to Retaliation for DEP Complaint