Should the DOB be Abolished? Builders Think So
At a City Council hearing yesterday on improving safety at construction sites, reps from the real estate industry and construction unions called for the Department of Buildings to be shut down, according to an article in the Times. Builders want the DOB to be replaced by a public corporation charged with overseeing construction. The Buildings…
At a City Council hearing yesterday on improving safety at construction sites, reps from the real estate industry and construction unions called for the Department of Buildings to be shut down, according to an article in the Times. Builders want the DOB to be replaced by a public corporation charged with overseeing construction. The Buildings Department is collapsing under the weight of its own reform, said Louis J. Coletti, president of the Building Trades Employers’ Association. Steven Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York, said the corporation would do more to protect the safety of the public, as well as construction workers, than most of the 12 bills submitted at the Council. Those bills, which were also discussed yesterday, include a proposal to have the DOB appoint independent safety inspectors at the expense of developers for sites with a history of violations. Robert LiMandri, the acting DOB commissioner, endorsed the independent inspector idea but is against a bill proposed by Councilmember Letitia James that would involve setting up a whistleblower’s hot line.
Many Propose Ways to Make Construction Sites Safer [NY Times]
Photo by Boon Wuldenhoos
There are Licensed Contractors who “lease their license” in terms of pulling building permits so that unlicensed contractors can ply their dangerous and illicit trade in the building industry. This practice is prevalent in Queens and Brooklyn. I was caught up in this scam when I hired a bogus “building contractor” to build my new home. It cost me a additional $250,000.00 to fix all the “dirty” work that was done. I reported this dangerous scam to the Buildings Department/ the DCA the Queens/ Brooklyn DA office. Councilmen Comerie and Charles Barron and Mayor Bloomburg. They all did absoultely nothing. This indicates to me that these officials do not really care. Only when something tragic occurs in public then you see a window dressing attempt at a fix.
“I think the poster is more questioning the basis of the rules themselves than complaining that he got caught.”
Yeah, I realize this. My point is that it’s somewhat disingenuous to break the rules, get caught, and then assert the rules have no validity. Had he followed the rules to the letter, he’d have a better ethical position from which to criticize the process.
I think the poster is more questioning the basis of the rules themselves than complaining that he got caught.
“We did not, however, have permits.”
So you got fined. I mean, the system is definitely onerous, but your complaints are far less than valid considering you didn’t exactly follow the rules yourself.
Sid
They DO arrest people who violate SWOs, it says it right on the violation. Plus, this is NYC: DoB is a tremendous bureaucracy, and because of that, most people try to sidestep them to avoid headaches and spending wads of cash. For a big developer, that cash may not be a big deal, but to someone like 10:33 (music studio guy), those fines and extra costs could sink his startup business, and for what? A few interior walls? If they’re not even structural, his GC should be able to just apply for the work permit and slap them up without having to get architectural plans approved first.
“Builders want the DOB to be replaced by a public corporation charged with overseeing construction.”
Like the Port Authority? YIKES!!!!
12:57:
Of course we thought of that. We have insurance on the space. As I mentioned, we have done everything up to code, and would have continued to do so until finished. We have already made the structure of the building much stronger by virtue of what we’ve done. Thanks for your concern, though, shrouded as it was in a veil of contempt.
1:24:
Not sure I get your full meaning.
all those who oppose the FD what is your idea?-its NOT under the FD now. The FD does some fire related inspections but it would IMO be better under one roof with training and properly certified employees. What is your solution-the status quo? The DOB is terrible. Ripe with corruption and inefficiencies. To the person who was fined without permits—in most states they would arrest you for not getting the required permits. The DOB should get those who violate stop work orders arrested. None of this fine nonsense. You will see it stop when they start putting violators in jail!
Sid from Brooklyn
Things are finally starting to turn for the better and developers want to pull the plug. Just about every new building in the South Slope has a stop work order in place now or in the very recent past due to inferior excavation/foundation/underpinning work. Knowing that the DoB has their eyes open and special enforcement teams are making surprize inspections, why would contractors continue working in ways that place the public and property in danger? Because the Environmental Control Board is the real joke. Start collecting those $5000 fines and maybe we will see improvement! For the DIY @ 10:33, NO ONE pays the full penalty… NO ONE.