Neighbors + 311
Any advice out there for a homeowner who is going through ALL the necessary procedures for doing a big renovation: engineers, architects, dob filings, licensed and insured everything, permits displayed and STILL the neighbors are harassing us by constantly calling 311 just to try to stop us from working. We’ve tried to make nice with…
Any advice out there for a homeowner who is going through ALL the necessary procedures for doing a big renovation: engineers, architects, dob filings, licensed and insured everything, permits displayed and STILL the neighbors are harassing us by constantly calling 311 just to try to stop us from working. We’ve tried to make nice with these people, they have no complaint other than they told us that they preferred the quiet before the work started. All of our inspector visits have been totally fine. Inspectors are just laughing as they come in because they’ve been there so much. But I’m getting really upset because why should these people be allowed to harrass us all the time? Isn’t there some sort of limit to how many identical ridiculous complaints that DOB will accept? Any advice from those who’ve been through it? And please don’t start ranting about all those people who are taking dangerous shortcuts with their renovations. That’s not us. We are doing everything by the books and it takes a lot of time and money and why should we have to be harassed constantly??
It used to be that anyone could file a stolen car report, but what happened is that so many people filed false reports to get their ex-husband/wife/girlfriend/whatever back, that the police dept now will only file a report if you can prove that you’re the owner of the vehicle. In the same spirit, a restriction should be put on DOB violations. The city should hold the person making the claim accountable for a false or frivolous claim by requiring the caller to identify themselves (but this info should not be passed on to the “violator” to protect the caller from potential harrassment or retribution). It seems only fair.
This problem happens all of the time in the city. I am an architect and get calls from clients who are doing work by the book and whose neighbors call 311 or the DOB reporting exaggerated claims using terms that they don’t know what they mean but taken by a professional as being really bad and when the DOB arrives the problem is nothing. Almost every project. The DOB, Fire Dept., MTA; they all have to show up. These people should get fined everytime the Fire Dept. shows up for an exaggerated claim – it is in the public’s best interest. Some people are so righteous it makes me sick.
A lot of old bldgs have problems structurally that aren’t known until the next door neighbors start doing work. But should one neighbor be responsible just because the other neighbor hasn’t done the proper maintenance on their property? These bldgs are connected, but they are still individually owned property and you shouldn’t have to leave your home a wreck just because your next door neighbor hasn’t done the basics.
If your neighbor is doing structural work they are being overseen by structural engineers. A lot of time structural things having to do with a bldg are under plaster or behind one run of bricks, etc. So it’s unfair for neighbors to just assume that they are being hurt by their neighbors just because a crack develops in their wall, etc.
ABOUT FILING A 311 COMPLAINT IN GENERAL; The DoB is not going to know that a 6” crack opened up in your basement wall during your neighbors construction project until you call 311 to report it… several times by the way. Dangerously Incompetent architects/foundation contractors/ site engineers seem to be the norm in Brooklyn. Don’t bring a dozen roses to a firefight. Knowledge is power. Learn everything possible about the construction work being done. You will be surprised by all the corners being cut in order to make that extra $$$ If we left it up to those “trained prefessionals” we wpould have more than 24 construction deaths (how many of those are Latinos I wonder?) in NYC. It’s sad when someone with no construction education like Mrs. Jane Public can see with her own eyes that something doesn’t look quite right and then is given, by default, the job of DoB inspector.
I am sorry about your trouble. I am sure you are bending over backwards to do the right thing; to state the obvious, to the extent that you can maintain some level of civility in the midst of all this, your neighbors may be shamed into laying off. That may be too optimistic but these clowns will be your neighbors. What you don’t need is a Hatfields/McCoy feud. Renovation is hard enough. I went through a very tense period with one set of neighbors about a tree/my yard but roots in their yard too, trunk leaning into their yard…blah blah. Bottom line it was a huge sick old tree which straddled both properties and it had to be dealt with and they wanted it gone and were unwilling to pay anything or accept that it was a joint tree. I just decided to suck it up and take the thing down rather than go the legal route because I didn’t want these neighbors making my life hell. They know they were pushing the envelope, got a freebee and they are sheepish around me now and tentatively friendly. Whatever. Good luck. If things don’t improve, maybe you can file a complaint to the DOB which should be checking into more important things (i.e. 17 construction workers killed so far this year….).
Good luck.
I would call 311 on them and let them see how it feels. Really, it’s for your own protection, not just revenge. If they had unpermited fix-it work (ie: plumbing or sewage, electrical, roof) done it will ABSOLUTELY affect your quality of life down the road. I can’t tell you how many times our basement has flooded b/c our next-door neighbor refuses to spend some real money on fixing the waste lines in her (being used illegally as a…) 3-family building.
I am sure it’s very easy to think that just because there were 49 complaints made against a contractor they weren’t all handled very well. At some point the city must rely on architects and licensed contractors. Individuals really don’t have the expertise to govern or police or determine what is normal or safe contractor practices — despite their genuine concern. And although there is clearly a wide margin between what is acceptable and what is the best construction practices it’s ridiculous to expect the government to oversee all construction and insist on the most expensive way of doing things — which usually turns in to the slowest way with the most oversight by an inefficient govt agency. So as with most things in life a middle ground must be achieved. And if individuals think that by calling 311 they are doing a major public service they really ought to look in the mirror and ask themselves why they think they know it all and how much of their so-called altruism has to do with protecting their own self-interests. Think people what you are asking of your neighbors. Why should they run in to cost overruns just because you are wondering if all is well on their job site? If you want to become a DOB inspector and change the world then go ahead. Otherwise just try to work things out with your neighbors first.
Life is too short. I would kill your neighbors with kindness. Let the inspectors come by all they want. Maybe one day they will see something your contractor is doing not quite right and have him correct it. It’s like having another person looking out for your well being.
So how many complaints were made anyway. We have a builder working near us with 49 complaints, almost all of them valid. Only five were ever properly handled by the DOB.
i would call 311 on them. childish? maybe. but so what.