Stalled Development in the 39th Council District

We need to make these sites into assets for the community. Many of these developments are causing real hazards for their neighbors, with fences falling down on sidewalks, loose construction debris that can become deadly in high winds, and unsecured sites that are dangerous for children and an invitation to squatting.

Help the effort to convert local blight to community benefit by providing feedback and tracking the progress of each site.
Leave comments below on a individual site to update us on the conditions. If you call 311 about an issue, please leave a complaint number in the comment.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

364 Henry Street, 129 Congress Street, Cobble Hill

(NW corner of Henry and Congress Streets)



Project Type: Existing building

Project Description: Planned interior alterations and external repairs on buildings in landmark district.

Status: Stalled. Building decaying. Stop Work Order in effect.

Update 8/2010: EBC violation, sidewalk shed does note meetin building code specification 7/29/10, EBC violation, sidewalk shed not illuminated 6/23/10, EBC violation, expired shed permit 7/30/10, EBC violation, no fences permit 7/30/10.

Update 2/19/2010: Work has been stopped by DOB due to various compliance issues. DOB added to Stalled Site list 12/30/2009, found no immediate threat.

Background: These two adjoining buildings have had structural defects dating back to 2001, when violations were issued for cracks in the façade and hazardous, defective masonry. Architect Robert Scarano was hired to design modifications to the building, which is located within a Landmarked district.

The buildings have been reported as vacant since 2004. Complaints and violations continued for years, noting failure to maintain the building, failure to maintain the sidewalk shed, construction of an illegal curb cut, expired permits, work without permits, and defective/exposed electrical wiring, among others. A Stop Work Order issued in April 2009 was partially rescinded to allow remedial safety measures, but additional work was undertaken and the owner was issued a violation for failure to obey the SWO.

Our site visit in November 2009 showed the site to be in poor condition, with debris throughout the property and idle construction equipment. By December 2009, the site was declared Stalled and there were 23 outstanding violations.

2 comments:

  1. The situation has gotten much worse. As of March 12, 2012, there are now 27 Department of Building Violations (24 still open) and 71 ECB Violations (42 still open) against 364 Henry/129 Congress Streets owned by Quadrozzi. He owes many, many unpaid fines and another Stop Work Order is in effect. He constantly disobeys these orders. The permits for the scaffolding has expired and the walls still look like they are in danger of collapsing. Looks like the lawsuit filed by Landmarks and DOB is still pending and everything is in a standstill. The neighborhood looks like crap because of this, and neighbors are always worried something could fall and hurt someone.

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  2. Does anyone care about the fact this building is still falling apart? No work on it in more than two years. And the house he lives in down the block is an eyesore, too. Where is the city???

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