Where Does a Tree Stand in Development Hierarchy?
What do you do if you’re trying to put up a building next to a city park and some pesky tree branches get in the way? If you’re David Angel and the address is 639 Sixth Avenue, you amputate now, ask questions later. To bad for him that a neighbor who happens to quite like…
What do you do if you’re trying to put up a building next to a city park and some pesky tree branches get in the way? If you’re David Angel and the address is 639 Sixth Avenue, you amputate now, ask questions later. To bad for him that a neighbor who happens to quite like Mayrose Park and the old sycamore tree that has stood in it for decades. The Parks Department has handed out a summons already (which can go on the wall next to the outstanding DOB violation for work without a permit), but the really rub is that for the building to reach its full height the canopy of the tree will have to be substantially destroyed. We’re a little hazy on the rules and procedure in a situation like this. Anyone case to fill us in?
Illegal Tree Pruning [Flickr] GMAP DOB
Damn! I misspelled “down.” Shame on me after going after folks on earlier posts.
Damn spell-checker 😉
“how do people know they are buying into a quality building?”
Generally we have seen that no matter how well designed a building is (up to interpretation on aethetics, but I will not debate that) or not well designed, the majority of the jobs are CRAP!
Rushed foundations & exterior work, cheap finishings or bad craftmanship when the finishings are appropriate.
Basically, quite a few of us (and our elected officials & CB) are worried what will happen with some of these developments 5-10 yrs doen the line.
Structual damage due to inferior rebar being used, not vibrating the concrete, too much block used vs. poured concrete and steel, improper dranage in the rear yards, substandard exterior finishes (doors, windows, balconies, railings, etc.).
Especially on sites like 162 16th St a.k.a the Katan Tower.
Even the war going on between our home oners and the developer of the Scarano POS on 16th St.. that one is already listing an leaning and no one has moved in yet.
“Buyer beware” is more definite now than ever.
1;27,
That is precisely what bothers me. All of these illegal activities are done knowing that fines will be levied, everyone will get a slap on the wrist, thjey’ll pay their measly fees, (or big fines, they don’t care) and go their merry way, leaving the community with whatever they “built”.
I don’t like the model of “It’s just a part of the cost of doing business.”
BTW, how do people know they are buying into a quality building? does the DOB actually inspect structures and mechanicals to make sure everything is done corectly? i’m not so sure…
the city parks dept or any of city agency for that matter are a bunch of arses. should a developer call them, they will act to stop the removal of any tree, and should the tree then be cut, a sizeable penalty will result. its far easier, cheaper and smart to chop now and beg for forgiveness later. lets forget the environment for a second, would everyone here allow the IRS to make a judgement on their taxes, or would they just submit a bullshit return and hope for the best.
“let a tree get in the way or progress or profit..unfortunately that isn’t a viable proposition.”
That is not the point here. Illegal activity is. The tree may have to go to have the project completed. Fine. But, let NYC Parks be the judge of that and not some day laborer with a circular saw…or the developer for that matter!
OK. Nah, it’s Friday, too tired to be bogus, or even very coherent, note the lack of periods in the above tomes, just lots of commas, and boy, my English teachers would plotz!
I think lostinbrooklyn is a great asset to his nabe, as well as Bklyn in general. Those who just sit and complain aren’t helping. Agitators and people who hold developers feet to the fire may not win any popularity contests with them, but who cares? If we don’t step up to protect our neighborhoods, we won’t have any, and we’ll all be living in giant Co-op City type minicities. Not what I want Brooklyn to look like, nor where I want to live.
so you cut down 1 large sycamore and plant 5 or so pear trees..isn’t that enough? what more can a developer do? let a tree get in the way or progress or profit..unfortunately that isn’t a viable proposition.
12:48 here.
You got me, CHP…(unless you really are doing a serious mindf*** on everyone here; it didn’t read like your style to me and i know you’re on typekey now…)
I’m pissed at the developers for thinking that no one has a right to call the DOB, or the Parks Dept. or the cops, when said builders do something illegal.
I’m defending everyone who is a property owner, oldtimers and newcomers alike. I’m also defending lost in brooklyn, who i don’t know personally; at least he’s out there trying to prevent more damage from happening…
A couple of things.
1. The atrocious squeal of “mind your own business” types, the quick reach for the NIMBY smear, the foul language — who wants that crowd on your side or in your neighborhood?
2. The developer, builder and architect of projects like this view laws or trees as mere obstacles. The mentality is “forgiveness is easier to get than permission.” Or fines — doesn’t matter. Very New York, actually.
3. Some people romanticize this breaking the law by doing whatever you want as somehow sticking it to the man, or striking a blow for libertarianism. But what they’re doing is not to be romanticized: it’s simple selfishness leavened with arrogance. It’s not sticking it to the man, it’s really sticking it to the neighborhood.
4. It’s worth repeating that this housing being built is not affordable to the majority of people who need housing. And ironically, this crap sandwich going up is going to have a hard time appealing to the “target audience.”
5. I share the sentiment of people like lostinbrooklyn who have a stake in how their neighborhoods grow and preserve. It may be an imported sentiment, however — plenty of people in this town (not just developers, but owners) could give a rat’s ass about something getting in the way of maximizing their return. A sad fact of New York.
–an architect in Brooklyn