Construction fence violation upheld for inactive site

Owner of stalled construction site had an expired construction fence permit. A Buildings officer inspected a construction site owned by Honawatie Kharran after receiving a complaint about a broken construction fence. Although no one was working at the site, the construction fence had an expired permit posted on it. The officer issued Kharran a notice of violation for working without a permit, a violation of the Administrative Code.

At a hearing, Kharran’s contractor said no … <Read More>


Hoist contractor fined $1,000

Hoist at former Deutsche Bank building had broken door and brake. The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation hired Regional Scaffolding and Hoisting Co. and Safeway Environmental Corp. to assemble exterior scaffolding on the former Deutsche Bank building at 130 Liberty Street in Manhattan. Aside from the scaffolding, the joint venture was also hired to install a hoist for personnel and material. Lower Manhattan Development hired Bovis to deconstruct the building after the joint venture completed its … <Read More>


Front yard parking for attached home upheld

In a three-two decision, BSA found that side lot ribbon existed even though that portion of the zoning lot was not completely open to the sky. The owners of 846 70th Street applied to Buildings for a new 10ft. curb cut that would facilitate off-street parking in the front yard of their attached home. The home is one of 19 continuously attached homes in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn. Buildings granted the permit, finding … <Read More>


Times Square’s Paramount Hotel designated

The Paramount Hotel at 235 West 46th Street in Manhattan. Photo: CityLand.

Theater District hotel’s architect was primarily known as a theater designer. On November 17, 2009, Landmarks voted to designate the Paramount Hotel, located at 235 West 46th Street in Manhattan. Thomas W. Lamb built the 600-room French Renaissance hotel between 1927 and 1928. The Scottish-born Lamb was a prolific theater and cinema architect, having designed more than 300 theaters around the world. The … <Read More>


Alterations to rowhouses near High Line considered

Landmarks considers proposed rooftop addition and renovations to four rowhouses at 21 – 27 Ninth Ave. in Manhattan. Photo: CityLand.

Community board and preservation groups supported rowhouses’ facade alterations but not the proposed rooftop addition. On November 10, 2009, Landmarks heard testimony on Aurora Capital Associates’ redevelopment proposal for four, three-story Greek Revival rowhouses at 21 through 27 Ninth Avenue in the Gansevoort Market Historic District. The proposal included restoring the 19th century buildings’ red-brick … <Read More>


Designation denied on one B.F.Goodrich building

B.F. Goodrich Company Building at 225 West 57th Street in Manhattan. Photo: LPC.

Developer supported designation of one building but opposed designation of related structure. On November 10, 2009, Landmarks voted to designate the B.F. Goodrich Company Building at 1780 Broadway as an individual City landmark, but not its sister building at 225 West 57th Street. Howard Van Doren Shaw designed and built both structures in 1909, using elements from the Chicago School and Vienna … <Read More>