non permitted gut renovation in Bed/Stuy
I have been observing a gut renovation of a two family row house across the street for over a month now. The previous owner neglected the house for years and it was in pretty bad shape inside. The new owner is doing a complete renovation inside preparing to put it back on the market. The DOB website states that there are no open jobs and no permits for any work presently. What gave me cause for concern was first, their complete replacement of original decorative metal fence and gate at the sidewalk. Restoration of this metal work was needed, but it was completely ripped out and replaced with a cheap, six foot tall metal fence and gate with a keyed lock and the cement work was done very sloppily. Now I notice they are constructing a wood 2×4 and plywood structure on the roof. This can’t possibly be to code. As mentioned above there are no permits posted on the DOB site, but there appear to be two “permits” posted in a parlor window where no one can possibly read what they say, given that the six foot fence is locked and the permits are not located near to the stoop for closer reading. I suspect they are fake. This is not located in a landmarked district, but it is on a lovely block where for the most part the original facades and ironwork are intact. Question: how updated are the DOB reports on the Internet? Is wood framing permitted for roof additions? Should I be reporting this to DOB?

Bklynsolid
in Permits 10 years and 4 months ago
9
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Bklynsolid | 10 years and 4 months ago
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My complaint against this development is posted on the DOB property profile as ACTIVE, but no disposition is mentioned, no violations have been lodged against this property. No workers have been on this site for two days. Could the developer of this property just be waiting this out until DOB closes the complaint because they don’t get access to the property? I am just curious to know how DOB follows through with complaints. I have not seen DOB at the site, but perhaps I missed them and their visit resulted in the quick removal of the phony permits and the not-permitted addition on the roof?

catboot | 10 years and 4 months ago
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The type of flippers that troll BedStuy are the worst. There are currently 2 active flips on my block, none of which has any permits. They intimidate the neighbors and do as they wish. They are experts in skirting the rules. I’m glad to hear they are removing the rood addition. As for the posted permits, frequently they are either fake, from a different project, or incomplete (for just a fraction of the total project).

greenmountain | 10 years and 4 months ago
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Oh, come on. You have to be a little more cynical. There are aps for everything. People who fake building permits, while they hurry to undermine your community, are more prepared and experienced at this than you are. If you want to preserve housing for good neighbors, who are not deep in debt, or too rich to care, there are a lot of things you can do about it. But, I am glad you called the DOB.

Bklynsolid | 10 years and 4 months ago
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One could only hope they are following this forum. They might learn that neighbors care what happens to buildings on their block for many reasons, including property values. At least they know they are being watched by the neighbors.

argylerd | 10 years and 4 months ago
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Could it be that whoever is doing this illegal work follows this forum?

Bklynsolid | 10 years and 4 months ago
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I doubt that DOB inspectors came out so quickly, but today (Monday, which is a City holiday) I observed that the fake permits have been removed from the window and the roof addition is being removed as quickly as possible. I suspect that someone noticed the complaint on the DOB website alerting them to the possibility of an inspector coming to the site. Call me happy that I made the report.

greenmountain | 10 years and 4 months ago
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Please pursue this legally, but aggressively. If it is a legitimate business deal, fine. But, if crappy and expedient renovations are only driving up the cost of housing while not improving it, than it probably includes several types of fraud. If so, there is no reason to tolerate it.

Bklynsolid | 10 years and 4 months ago
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Thanks, Cate. The structure on the roof certainly appears to be an addition, not a temporary structure. The DOB permits posted in the window are curious, especially since nothing is indicated on the website. I will make a report.

cate | 10 years and 4 months ago
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It is, theoretically speaking, possible to do, say, a gut renovation without an Alt-1 or Alt-2 permit being required. If permits are required and applied for, the DOB will issue them and they will appear on the DOB’s website before work starts. If the structure you see on the roof is an addition, an Alt-1 permit is required. I don’t know what the rules are regarding framing materials or, say, wooden roof decks, or garden containers. If you think they are doing work without a permit, and constructing a possibly illegal structure on the roof, by all means call 311 and make a complaint about both those items.