DOB Posts Letter of Intent to Revoke on St. Marks Ave
Here’s an update on the situation at 97 St. Marks Avenue that we wrote about two days ago: In response to complaints that were lodged, the Department of Buildings made two visits to the worksite, one on Wednesday and on one Thursday. Yesterday’s visit resulted in the Borough Commissioner issuing a Stop Work Order as…
Here’s an update on the situation at 97 St. Marks Avenue that we wrote about two days ago: In response to complaints that were lodged, the Department of Buildings made two visits to the worksite, one on Wednesday and on one Thursday. Yesterday’s visit resulted in the Borough Commissioner issuing a Stop Work Order as well as a 15-day Letter of Intent to Revoke. While the owner technically has 15 days to address the specific issues, a code consultant we just got off the phone with suggested that the fact that the letter was combined with a Stop Work Order means that the odds are now strongly against the owner. If anyone can clarify/expand on that reading of the situation, please do.
A Curb Cut on Landmarked St. Marks Avenue? [Brownstoner] GMAP
i used to live at 94 St. Marks. This house is nice looking.
Oh, right East New York.
Silly me. I forgot to simply invoke the fact that “life is not fair”.
I guess we should all just refer to your truism rather than bother making attempts at improving circumstances or making life better/easier/fairer etc.
If you absolutely have to have a car (and I’m not convinced most people in Brownstone Brooklyn do, although some genuinely do, of course) – buy a house with a garage in Ditmas.
some of these old curbs cuts (which may or may not have had permits tobegin with) seem to live on in perpetuity even when not used for garage/parking. As example…on Butler off smith where at one time was a garage parking was enclosed with rest of bldg and used as part of restaurant now a clothing store. Yet they still post a big sign no parking. and by me – somehow they got a double cut – origin was 1 to a small lot for something like 5 cars…then somehow they got a double wide cut..built a 2 car garage…
and use 1 for restaurant storage and other to park 1 car.
But now they have their own reserved street parking in front of storage garage. So a double cut to for 1 off-street car.
Well, I’m glad she can’t put in the garage and all, but honestly we don’t know who is actually at fault for the original paperwork- for all we know the architect or contractor misled her. We don’t know the whole story about the tenant either- just from people who are obviously biased in her favor- but sorry- no tenant can be summarily kicked out and especially if she is elderly. There are laws so I would really like to know the other side. Meanwhile the owner has been raked over the coals of ignorance here and the snarking continues because she’s a decorative artist. Yes- good job Jon. Not.
“Why on EARTH would this particular owner be allowed his/her own curb cut and parking space when no one else on the block has one?”
Who said life was fair?
While I completely agree with everyone about the aesthetic issues of curb cuts and the inherent selfishness of trying to appropriate a section of the street, jack slade is right that if somebody trips on a slate sidewalk outside your house, you get sued not the city. And the city certainly can fine you for the condition of the sidewalk outside your house so in that sense its not public. And I reiterate that I feel distinctly uneasy with the concept of sicking the DOB on somebody as it has happened to me.
I don’t know about this ‘myob’ thing as it pertains to parking, the use of public space, and potentially destroying the aesthetic appeal of an entire row of gorgeous old brownstones. Why on EARTH would this particular owner be allowed his/her own curb cut and parking space when no one else on the block has one? To follow the line of reasoning, how about EVERY owner do the same? And we end up with an ‘historic’ block of driveways, looking more like Bensonhurst then Prospect Heights or Park Slope?
There are plenty of garages at which one can pay to park their car in Brooklyn. That or alternate side parking rules that apply to everyone.
re: side walk ownership. Technically it’s not public property, when landlords are issued fines for: snow/ice , trash, cracks, and busted water mains from city trees.