Wall Collapse, Vacate Order, Maybe Demo on MacDonough
The Department of Buildings issued vacate orders yesterday for the two brownstones at 329 and 331 MacDonough Street in Bed Stuy due to unstable conditions caused by illegal construction work in the basement of Number 329. ANC Contracting, which had been gut-renovating 329 MacDonough, was issued three ECB violations (for failure to protect the adjacent…
The Department of Buildings issued vacate orders yesterday for the two brownstones at 329 and 331 MacDonough Street in Bed Stuy due to unstable conditions caused by illegal construction work in the basement of Number 329. ANC Contracting, which had been gut-renovating 329 MacDonough, was issued three ECB violations (for failure to protect the adjacent property, for work contrary to approved plans and for unsafe conditions). The cause of the structural failure was damage to the party wall as well as water and gas pipes in the basement. A tipster told us that a DOB inspector on-site yesterday evening said the buildings would be torn down, and the photo on the jump from 11 p.m. shows a fence erected, but as of the end of the workday yesterday DOB officials were not able to confirm the course of action. More to come. It will be really sad if these beautiful buildings have to come down. GMAP
The block is Landmarked so i suspect there will be some rules that apply above and beyond those of the DOB. Anybody know???
Yeah they sure dont build them like they used to!!!!
No No NO. They can’t tear down these buildings. This is one of the most beautiful blocks in brooklyn. Brownstones and freestanding mansions. The buildings have stood for over 100 years. Isn’t there another way to shore up the buildings; maybe at least preserve the facades?
The house to the right of 331 is for sale in case anyone is interested. Stuyvesant Heights realty has the listing. I hear it needs to be gutted.
It may be an interesting study for the Norah Jones house because it is adjacent to the obviously older, Victorian frame to the right and yet it still has no side windows, unlike “corner” houses.
Contractor has liability insurance. Maybe not enough in this case…
Most likely had to do with underpinning foundation or removal of a portion of the back wall to access new rear extension.
Renovation work was all about changing a five family to a four family. Doesn’t rent control start at 6 families?
They can’t just pull down these buildings overnight. Properties farther down the block will have to be monitored and braced as well. The ultimate nightmare. Litigation in this case will not be pretty.
The architect may well be a “very thorough & conscientious guy” but wouldn’t he be liable for not properly supervising the contractor? Not fair, of course, but the world usually isn’t fair.
Surely there must be some way to remediate w/o tearing down. Presumably the contractor has insurance so even if he’s fled there should be money available.
Rob – your psychic powers have been very active as of late…
the pyschic part of my brain thinks this is mad fishy. i wonder if those people told to vacate were rent controlled tenants? i bet they were. do you think they will be allowed back in? i dont think they will be. SHADY!!!!
*rob*