DEP Damage to Facade
I came home the other day and saw a white box about 6 inches by 8 inches on my brownstone. I looked closer and saw that my small water meter reader device had been replaced with this (bigger) thing. DEP didn’t even ring my doorbell to let me know they were there. There was someone…
I came home the other day and saw a white box about 6 inches by 8 inches on my brownstone. I looked closer and saw that my small water meter reader device had been replaced with this (bigger) thing. DEP didn’t even ring my doorbell to let me know they were there. There was someone home at the time, so we would know. What really bugs me is that they just put this ugly device anywhere they felt and literally drilled it through my original historic brownstone facade, causing a lot of damage. My home was built in 1877 and this is these are the first holes drilled into the facade in 132 years. I can’t do anything to my facade because I am in a landmaked neighborhood and DEP does whatever they feel at any given time. I want them to move the decice so it isn’t in the worst spot ever but I don’t want them to cause more damage. I have spent years protecting my building’s features. Is there anyone else with this problem??? I will post pictures soon!
Arkady: The literature provided by DEP doesn’t tell you all the information. Make sure you are around when the hack sub-contractors that DEP hires are at your house. On second thought, that might not matter since there were people at my building when DEP damaged my facade.
Vinca: Funny how people who fail to read all of the posts and comprehend all the information speak the loudest about other’s responsibilities. Don’t over simplify things to suit your own agenda.
Sue the bastards!!
Arkady: See the DEP link I posted (2nd one). There are sublinks at the bottom of that page with contact info for scheduling appointments.
pdmals: Maybe communication is a two-way street. Since they notified you of the change, including a request to schedule an appointment, maybe that’s what you should have done. Funny how people who fail to take responsibility themselves complain loudly about other’s responsibilities.
I live in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
I knew about the “replacement” of the water meters. Which in my mind means “change existing meter with the same or similar”. Same to me means: size, shape, color, and function. Maybe the DEP should have communicated about their intent as to be “replacement with different” meters? Maybe DEP should tell people that they intend on damaging your facade if you, as a homeowner, don’t call and schedule an appointment? Maybe DEP should communicate there are options for placement?
I have called and complained already. I hope this doesn’t happen to you! I love my neighborhood and all the buildings and achitecture in it. I don’t mind a meter, but seriously… does this device need to be in a spot so it is the first thing you notice on a brownstone?
pd – What neighborhood are you in? I’d like to know if the program is coming near mine.
Thx.
pdmals: We got a letter from DEP months ago informing us of the new program, and asking that we call for an installation appointment. Some comment in your second post that you knew the meter was going to be changed, too. I wouldn’t be happy if someone damaged our facade, and I don’t particularly like the new meter (which is much more obtrusive than the previous) but the installers were entirely cooperative when we pointed out our preference for placement. This link to 2009 NY Times article about program: http://nyti.ms/biuONZ
This link to DEP info page, including contractor contact information by zip code to schedule your appointment: http://bit.ly/bm8GH3
To Bob Marvin. In lieu of not having the right of way and being granted a monopoly, the cable company, I believe, was supposed to dig vaults in front of each home for cable installation. This is expensive to do. The cable company has never gotten around to doing this.
“For example, the cable companies don’t need your permission to run their lines through the backyards and attach them to your building”
Not so; most blocks in my neighborhood [Lefferts Manor]were never wired by Cablevision because there is no normal right of way they could rent from the phone company [i.e.: no telephone poles], they’d need permission from every homeowner to attach cables to the backs of houses, and they were unable to obtain such permission.
They asked at my house, I told them to leave. They mailed the request, made an appt and installed the damn thing. They are only doing it for a bit for free. They could not finnd somewhere out of the way?