Sidewalk Repairs
So conceivably, one could repair the flag, then call for a reinspection, or, having completed the repair, file the homeowner permit and then call for final inspection?
hkapstein
in General Discussion 5 years and 3 months ago
12
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12 replies
Guest User | 5 years and 3 months ago
I own a 5 family non owner occupied brownstone and several sections of the sidewalk being lifted and cracked by tree roots and need to find a licensed contractor for the work. Does the contractor need to obtain a permit from NYC? There is no violation.
Can someone recommend a contractor?
stevecym | 5 years and 3 months ago
we got a sidewalk violation and i was thinking of doing the sidewalk myself or having someone help me but in the end, the simple fact that i (or a contractor) would have to go down and get a permit had me let it go until the city fixed it and billed me.
folks on here can recommend someone. we used lapietra contracting for a job some years back now. they were on third ave and we were happy.
JohnHancock | 5 years and 3 months ago
Ive been waiting 3 years already for them to come do the work after i returned the paperwork: )
stevecym | 5 years and 3 months ago
@johnH, who did you return what paper work to? in my case i got a violation and a notice with a drop dead date that said if i had not done it by they, they would do it. our situation here, the entire street got violations (half of us anyway) and perhaps that was why they were motivated. the price they wanted and not having the hassle of getting and paying for the permit worked for me and they did a really good job.
JohnHancock | 5 years and 3 months ago
Our block got violations and were given the handout from the city were you could opt in for the city to do the work. You return the form and start waiting…
stevecym | 5 years and 3 months ago
@john: our community board was the group we were told was going to move with or without us. i suspect a lot of work got done in our area at the time and it was driven by the community board.
hkapstein | 5 years and 3 months ago
FWIW, I asked the contractors doing some flags for coned if they could repair a sidewalk for me while they were doing a nearby job. They said a homeowner can pull a permit and do it himself. Anyone know if this is true? I thought a dot contractor was needed.
stevecym | 5 years and 3 months ago
urbandad: yes, we can pull a permit and do it ourselves so long as we do not pay someone else to do it(the work). when i contemplated this, i was going to pay a family member to help. in the end, i decided just the hassle of going to get the permit was enough to dissuade me.
housepoor | 5 years and 3 months ago
There is an NYC expedited sidewalk repair service you can sign up for, but there are limitations. 5 family buildings may not be eligible. When I got a violation on two squares, it said that the damage adjacent to the square next to the tree was caused by the tree roots. DOT told me that this was the Parks Dept responsibility to repair and if I or my contractor did it, I could be subject to big fines. On the flip side, DOT told me I was not liable if someone did trip and fall on that square since it belonged to the City and they are responsible for maintaining it. You can call 311 and have them put in a request for the Parks Dept to make the repair for free, but be prepared to wait years. If I wanted the City’s expedited service to do the repair, they would repair the square next to the tree, but I would be billed for that repair along with the other square. I opted to get the permit myself and with a friend re-pour just the one square. Make sure you call 311 and request an inspection. They send you an email confirming it. If you don’t get the email, it never went into th e system (that happened to me the first time) and you’ll have to call again. If you have time, go down to DOT and ask. DOT, I am told, has a list of approved contractors. They are actually very helpful although somewhat hamstrung by the bureaucracy. Also, there have been recent changes to the Landmarks law exempting sidewalks in certain Landmarked areas from needed the approval from Landmarks prior to getting the DOT permit. When I first applied for the expedited service, they refused because I was Landmarked. It took a while to prove this was not relevant – a trip to Landmarks, back to DOT, etc. but in the end, it didn’t matter. since I did not use their service.
Guest User | 5 years and 3 months ago
@John, Without sidewalk permit you can’t do the sidewalk even without getting violation. Now that you got violation, you must get a permit, otherwise, your violation will not be removed. If you need a contractor, then call 718-669-8305. We can help you with all your need.
Arkady | 5 years and 3 months ago
I asked for & got a 2nd inspection & the violation was voided – worth a try.
JohnHancock | 5 years and 3 months ago
I asked for a 2nd inspection as well, and i followed up a few times, looks like agencies are not aligned. I have just small cracks and have a huge London plane tree, im fine with the City pullimg the permits and doing the work….they just haven’t followed up. The violation was issued but that was where it all ended.