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
Every developer would prefer to do a project without permits. But they can’t. At the end of the day the cost of dealing with the fines and violations is mot worth the hassle. And if their intention if re-selling the house, they will need to not only pull permits but make sure all the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed. A new c of o is difficult to get and they will need to toe the line whether or not they are anarchists or just run of the mill sleazeballs.
They will definitely need permits both from Landmarks and the DOB to rehabilitate the house. Unfortunately the interior is not protected in any way so they have carte blanche there but they still need to file for permits for the work.
The owners must know by now that their every move is being tracked, which is good.
They do not need permits for cleaning out and hauling out debris, so they may claim that is all they are doing.
The community’s eye on this project is the best guarantee that the developer will proceed legally. The exterior, if not the interior, will be restored nicely.
We can hope, minard. So far I have no reason to think the developer cares if what he does is legal or not.
I hope the staircase is still there- the entryway originally was grand and beautiful. But seeing as how they didn’t bother with permits, I highly doubt they salvaged anything.
I should have known 🙂
It isn’t run of the mill and it is one of the earliest buildings in Crown Heights. You live in a run of the mill building and think it’s special so I’m not surprised you can understand what you’re looking at.
How can you tell?
Not just sad but totally illegal.
The lack of a permit is illegal. What don’t you get about that? The building is also landmarked- that means plans have to be field before work can be done-or the DOB will not issue permits for work. What is it you don’t get about this?