PS 106 in the Bronx. Image Credit: Google Maps.

School construction contractor sought extra compensation for change orders and delay caused by the School Construction Corporation. In July 2013, the Arnell Construction Company won a $42 million contract with the New York City School Construction Authority to construct a three-story school building and renovate the existing structure at Public School 106 in the Bronx. The contract required the work to be completed by April 12, 2016. During the course of the construction, Arnell, upon the request of the School Construction Authority installed 27 additional caissons (box-like foundational structures) at the project site. The project was not substantially completed until December 28, 2016. (read more…)

Speed bumps along Ampere Avenue, painted with the required markings. Image Credit: Google Maps

Motorcyclist was injured by an unmarked speed bump; City claimed indemnification from street contractor. Antonio Pedoto was injured when his motorcycle hit an unmarked speedbump on Ampere Avenue, between Middletown Road and Bayshore Avenue in the Bronx. Pedoto sued the City of New York. The City in turn sought indemnification from Denville Line Painting. (read more…)

The exterior of Calle Dao Chelsea in 2017, approximately a year prior to the application for a sidewalk cafe permit. Image Credit: Google Maps.

Owner of West 23rd Street restaurant sought to extend seating outside. In May 2018, Maxver LLC applied to the City Department of Consumer Affairs for consent to open an unenclosed sidewalk café outside of Calle Dao Chelsea, the Cuban-Chinese fusion restaurant that Maxver operates on Manhattan’s West 23rd Street. The application called for four tables, each seating two people. Consumer Affairs forwarded the application to Community Board No. 4, which, after a public hearing, unanimously voted against the application. Residents of the building that housed the restaurant opposed the sidewalk café based upon their negative experience with a previous sidewalk café at the same location. Maxver had also breached past agreements with the residents and the Community Board, including serving bottomless brunch (i.e., unlimited quantities of alcohol for a set price), despite promising not to, and by violating the condition of its liquor license that it would not apply for a sidewalk café. (read more…)

Illustrative Bird’s Eye View of the Pfizer Rezoning Site from 2017. Image Credit: Pfizer Sites Rezoning EIS.

Old Pfizer Facility Rezoned for mixed uses. The pharmaceutical company Pfizer operated out of a modest red-brick building located at the intersection of Harrison Avenue and Bartlett Street in the Broadway Triangle neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn until Pfizer relocated in 2007. In 2012, Harrison Realty, LLC. purchased Pfizer’s Brooklyn real estate for $12,750,000. Since purchasing the Pfizer Site, the building has been demolished and the site officially designated a ‘brownfield.’ Harrison rented the site out as short-term equipment and vehicle storage for nearby construction sites. (read more…)

The Bowery Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant. Image Credit: Google Maps.

DEP defaulted the contractor upgrading the Bowery Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant following long delay and performance failures. On March 4, 2013, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection awarded Framan Mechanical, Inc. a $6,555,000 contract to upgrade of the Bowery Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant. The contract involved the replacement of all eight main sewage pumps, including suction piping, seven suction valves, high and low-level seal water skids, and ancillary seal water equipment. (read more…)