Update on MacDonough Collapse
This arrived in my in box today from the Brownstoners of Bed Stuy. I’m sorry I didn’t see it before the scheduled hearing. I’m posting it here because I thought readers would like to know. PUBLIC HEARING ON DOB (DEPT OF BUILDINGS) DECISION TO DEMOLISH LANDMARK HOMES ON MACDONOUGH ST (LEWIS & STUY) IN BED-STUY…
This arrived in my in box today from the Brownstoners of Bed Stuy. I’m sorry I didn’t see it before the scheduled hearing. I’m posting it here because I thought readers would like to know.
PUBLIC HEARING ON DOB
(DEPT OF BUILDINGS)
DECISION TO DEMOLISH LANDMARK HOMES ON
MACDONOUGH ST (LEWIS & STUY) IN BED-STUY
TODAY!!! @ 1:30PM
360 ADAMS – SUPREME COURT BLDG
(A train to Jay St/Borough Hall)
Please circulate and post.
MEDIA ADVISORY … TODAY! TODAY! TODAY! McDONOUGH STREET(between Stuyvesant & Lewis)
Property owners, residents on historic Bedford Stuyvesant brownstone block in uproar over Buildings Dept “hasty” decision, “overnight” Wednesday/Thursday (21), to demolish brownstones. Building’s Dept has offered no explanation why they can’t be saved, says elderly property owner Ms. Doreen Prince, whose quick-thinking saved lives at 1:00am, Wednesday (20). She is restricted from returning to her house since then, though she keeps vigil outside on the block which as of midnight has not been roped off. And she awaits answers.
Stream of demolition “Vultures” have arrived on site to bid on demolition oppty, says Ms. Prince, but longtime homeowners have not been informed of “why buildings can not be shored and saved. If Buildings are in eminent danger, why aren’t streets roped off, and police on scene.”
Ms. Prince currently is on the scene keeping watch over buildings 329-331 McDonough Street, Brooklyn (Stuyvesant and Lewis). There are reports that Buildings Dept (360 Adams) set to have hearing at 1:30p.
For details and updates:
To reach Ms. Prince, contact her son, Allen: 718-360-6166
To reach a next door property owner, contact Krystal Coddett at 347-489-6551
I see. So Tim is in charge. His ego is much much bigger than his own self (he is not so little)
Tim Lynch is the forensic engineer who controls this situation. I have had personal experience with this little man with a very large ego. He will spend his time on site looking for someone to have arrested. He also encourages the regular DOB trolls to bury buildings in any and all violations to further justify knocking them down.
Usually if the owner’s hire an engineer who would submit a report to the commissioner’s office witha viable plan the city will not issue a demolition order. I don’t know the circumstances on this case but if someone else os willing to take responsibility the city won’t care either. Funny that there is no UB filed only an emergency declaration. In any case, unless if it is an immediate peril of collapse the city would not demolish it so fast. First thing is what is the forensic engineering unit recommendation and report ?
Thanks for all the helpful links, Vinca.
I don’t have time to study this issue, but I do wonder (as do we all) whether the city can and will step up to the plate here.
There are existing statutes addressing the issue of “demolition by neglect” (see a series of links further below) and, of course, the City has long placed and sold liens against homeowners and properties for unpaid taxes, water/sewage bills, etc.: http://bit.ly/5fLJkr
In what fashion, how soon or whether at all the LPC, NYC Corporation Counsel or any other entity will step in and apply those laws to the the MacDonough Street buildings for the purpose of saving them remains a heartfelt hope and, one would think, a moral imperative—yet an open question. Also an open question and conundrum is homeowners who demand the LPC and DOB to have swift feet and sharp teeth concerning violations by others, while skirting and maligning those agencies regarding their own home repairs and renovations.
National Trust—Demolition by Neglect: http://bit.ly/64IXjd
NYC Administrative Code, Landmarks Preservation and Historic Districts—
25-311 – Maintenance and repair of improvements: http://bit.ly/5gDyu4
25-317 – Criminal punishments and fines: http://bit.ly/8OfNxJ
25-317.1 – Civil penalties: http://bit.ly/4o3ode
25-317.2 – Violations of landmarks laws: enforcement: http://bit.ly/525M6k
New York Reports By Commission On Plans For Proposed Projects: http://bit.ly/4WHlSw
Press Release, NYC Settlement Payment for Failure to Maintain Landmarked Property (May 21, 2009): http://bit.ly/6ctELc
LPC should oversee a determination of what is needed to save the building from demolition. If the owner can’t afford the upkeep, then LPC should finance it, bill the cost to the owner, and if the owner doesn’t (or can’t) pay LPC should have a lien put on the property.
Perhaps this would require that some new laws be created. But this is a serious issue that must be addressed. Otherwise, the landmarking of these neighborhoods loses it effectiveness.
To paraphrase DIBS: with the designation of “Landmarked” must come responsibility on the part of both the LPC and the homeowner to work for the integrity of the building, the street and the neighborhood.
Otherwise the rule becomes: “You may not tear down your landmarked building unless you abuse or neglect your landmarked building, in which case you must tear it down.” That is an unacceptable rule.
I think (hope?) that modsquad is over simplifying things a little. While there might be circumstances where it’s truly impossible to save a building, I’d think that more often it’s a question of what resources are available and what is practicable (a word bureaucrats love). I realize that DOB’s first priority must be threats to safety, but if they’re allowing two (hopefully business) days, the threat can’t be all that imminent
I’d hope that much more is possible for occupied houses in an Historic District than for unoccupied ones with trees growing through them (like the lefferts Pl. building just demolished). I hope that organizations like Brownstoners of Bed-Stuy are involved and that they’ve contacted the Historic Districts Council, Municipal Art Society, Landmarks Conservancy, etc. as well as all the local elected officials
In a perfect world the insurance companies covering both houses might realize that they could save a lot of money by moving quickly to pay for stabilizing the buildings, but I fear that expecting such companies to be proactive and fast moving is probably unrealistic.
It would be awful to loose these houses if they’re savable!
BTW, Mopar, I can’t find anything about this matter on the Bed-Stuy Blog. Maybe I’m looking at the wrong site. Can you post a URL?
Somewhere in the background there is a forensic engineer who has say over whatever happens here. He is the person who says if these buildings stay or go. They of course dismiss the LPC for the fops that they are.
Agreed, Pigeon. I don’t know a lot of the details about LPC but you’re right. With the designation of “Landmarked” should come some responsibility on the part of LPC, not only the homeowner, to work for the integrity of the building, the street and the neighborhood.
LPC needs to “go to bat” in these circumstances.