Kent Matzo Loft Owner Fixes Fire Hazard School, Lofts Wait
A lot has been written about the 200 people, mostly artists, evicted from their live-work studios at 475 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg last January after the fire department found a potentially explosive matzo ball factory in the basement. But little has been said about the Hasidic girls school in the neighboring building, which judging by…
A lot has been written about the 200 people, mostly artists, evicted from their live-work studios at 475 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg last January after the fire department found a potentially explosive matzo ball factory in the basement. But little has been said about the Hasidic girls school in the neighboring building, which judging by the litany of violations listed on the Department of Buildings’ website was equally as dangerous. Together the two buildings have 141 violations with 101 still open, many from decades ago. The Department of Buildings’ violations have almost no information available online, but the Environmental Control Board issued violations at the school for: an improperly maintained boiler system that lacked an emergency fuel cut-off switch; holes in the boiler room ceiling; a disconnected sprinkler system and no carbon monoxide or fire detectors;
As far as the lofts and businesses at 475 Kent, “[The owners] haven’t accomplished even half of what they need to do,” said a building code and zoning consultant who has studied the case for months. While both the loft building (#475) and the school (#485) were operating illegally, a change in use has been requested for only the school, according to DOB filings. The zoning consultant gives “5:1 odds no resident is back in that building before June 1st.” A former resident, who as a fire gaurd has made regular visits to the building, said he thinks they could be in within a couple of weeks. Do you think the time-table will be affected by yesterday’s resignation of DOB Commish Patricia Lancaster?
Artists Could Maybe (not) Return to Matzo Factory by May [Brownstoner]
Glimmers of Hope for 475 Kent Residents [Brownstoner]
475 Kent Avenue: How It All Began [Brownstoner]
Big Showing From Pols at 475 Kent Vigil [Brownstoner]
Closing Bell: Moving Out at 475 Kent Avenue [Brownstoner]
‘Commune of Creative Types’ in the Burg is Emptied Out [Brownstoner]
People do care. We have friends who live there, renovated a space over a ten year span, were acknowledged by the city…and then the owner in cahoots with who knows whom pulled one over on everyone. This is not the first time loft buildings have been cleared of all their tenants (all it takes is the landlord illegally shutting off the sprinkler system for the City to come in and move everyone out) and then manages to “renovate” and sell the spaces over to new “condo” buyers. NOT FAIR.
You beat me to it, 10:35. Yawn.
i disagree with 10:35. it’s not a boring story. the attitude of the illegal residents pretty much sums up the arrogance that we law abiding citizens of williamsburg have to deal with. buy a condo in williamsburg and you are crucified, break the law and write a press release advertising your mis-deeds as if they were a good thing and people will sign a petition in support.
these people are self-entitled jerks and need to be cast out and fined. really, they should be facing criminal indictments too. the landlord should definitely be in jail.
obviously, the commercial tenants got super screwed, and i do really feel for them.
anyone living with children in that fire trap should have social services take their children from them.
Well if those little girls don’t add to the culture of the neighborhood then they’re not actually of any value. We must all focus on fighting for the right of artists to live free of the restraints of laws and free market rents.
THIS IS SUCH A BORING STORY BEAT – just drop it! No one cares!