Brooklyn building owner operated commercial uses in residential zone. The lot designated as 1801 Avenue P, Brooklyn, NY is in a district zoned for residential use. Buildings charged that the structure at that address was being used as a crating establishment, and for food processing and preparation, commercial vehicle storage, and junk salvage storage in violation of the New York City zoning resolution. Buildings sought an order of closure. The respondent was properly notified of the petition and hearing, but failed to appear at trial. (read more…)

Master plumber who held the permits for the work in the buildings destroyed in an explosion found repeatedly negligent and submitted materially false documents to Buildings. Andrew Trombettas, a master plumber affiliated with S. K. Piping & Heating Corp., located at 2103 21st Avenue in Astoria, and Beta Plumbing & Heating Corp, located at 1201 Astoria Blvd in Astoria, has been issued approximately 400 plumbing permits. Following an explosion at a building for which Trombettas had been issued a permit, the Department of Buildings audited all projects Trombettas was involved in since 2010. Buildings issued Trombettas approximately 82 notice of violations following inspections at 25 locations. (read more…)

Respondent previously relied on an agency email waiving excavation requirements.  On March 11, 2015 a Department of Buildings inspection officer issued notices of violation to Monadnock Construction for thirty building sites along the length of Egan Street in East New York, Brooklyn.  The notices were issued because the construction sites had begun excavation without notifying Buildings and obtaining excavation numbers for each site.  Monadnock contested the notices and argued they submitted the necessary AI-1form to obtain a Buildings waiver of all excavation requirements for the thirty sites.  Monadnock presented an email from a Buildings assistant plan examiner confirming the excavation requirements for “all Egan Street” were waived.  The hearing officer decided in favor of Monadnock, finding they reasonably relied on the Buildings statements.  Buildings appealed.

(read more…)

Board found the two-family requirement was not met.  In 1983 Maria Nazor, an artist, leased the fourth floor of 544 West 27th Street in Chelsea for ten years from the owner. Nazor, with the owner’s consent, created two separate lofts each with their own kitchen, bathroom, and five independent studio spaces.  Nazor occupied 4N and rented unit 4S and the studios to various tenants and artists at a prorated rent.  Nazor married Peter Mickle, an unlicensed architect, in 1994. Following the marriage, Mickle moved into units 4S. Nazor and Mickle separated in 2004 with no formal separation agreement and both continued to occupy their respective lofts. In 2002 Mickle established his current business, Rational Building Company Inc., and listed 544 West 27th Street as the company’s address.

(read more…)

Department of Buildings ruled this sign at 302 Metropolitan Avenue was illegal. Image credit: Google

Board agreed zoning prohibited advertising signs painted on the wall.  On March 29, 2014 the Department of Buildings issued five notices of violation against the Respondent, Metropolitan Avenue 298-308 Associates, Inc., for a prohibited outdoor advertising company sign painted onto the wall of 302 Metropolitan Avenue and failing to comply with previous Buildings orders in 2011 to correct previously-displayed signs.

(read more…)