Scofflaw Construction at Crown Heights Landmark
The landmark George B. and Susan Elkins House at 1375 Dean Street, the oldest house in Crown Heights North, has seen some troubling construction activity of late, according to our own Montrose Morris: “They were issued a Stop Work Order for working with out permits. They were doing interior gutting and demo. Apparently, they ignored…
The landmark George B. and Susan Elkins House at 1375 Dean Street, the oldest house in Crown Heights North, has seen some troubling construction activity of late, according to our own Montrose Morris:
“They were issued a Stop Work Order for working with out permits. They were doing interior gutting and demo. Apparently, they ignored the SWO, and continued. Complaints to the LPC and DOB caused an inspection and a firm talking to. They stopped working [Tuesday]. They have to file with LPC before getting DOB permits, so there shouldn’t be any work going on until that happens.”
Last year the Crown Heights North Association was looking to buy the building, but it ultimately sold to a firm called “Real Properties Group,” according to a reader. The sale hasn’t been recorded in public records, though, and it’s not clear what the new owners are planning to do with the house. Let us know if you have any intel, and click through for a few close-ups of the current state of the exterior…
CHNA Seeks to Purchase Historic Elkins House [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB
Agreed dave. But the developer’s big problem is buying the house, knowing ti was landmarked and what that would entail and then trying to evade the law. I think the nwe owner really figured it would be no big deal to ignore the LPC, the DOB and the community. I tink he’s find out that was a mistake.
It’s not greedy to want to live in a house. It’s stupid to buy a house knowing its landmarked and thinking you can get away with anything you like.
I think you mean harebrained 🙂
Hi Susan. Been awhile since you last posted 🙂
And the present greedy developer/owner can’t claim ignorance. He very well knew what he was getting into.
Codes and permits are the law- for all construction, not just this historic house. If you don’t want to follow the law, move to some other country where they don’t have them. There is a reason for codes and permits. You don’t like it? Don’t buy an old house or construct a new one.
we looked for you 🙂
The issue isn’t your master plumber, it’s getting proper permits from the DOB and doing the work according to code.
Actually – in a word, it’s called accountability.
Because having lived through the experience of what illegal construction work can do – to surrounding buildings, btw- I don;t have much use for people dumb enough to think its ok for them to avoid the law. And yes i am that concerned. Every see a kid bit by a rabid dog? Or a car accident with people strewn across the road. You may feel above the law, BSB- the bigger fool you.