Developer caught on video demolishing building with mechanical excavator and without a permit. In July 2005, Isaac Katan, of Global Development, received demolition permits to dismantle the building at 182 15th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn to make way for a new 62-unit, 11-story residential building. Buildings issued a stop-work order and then rescinded, stopping Katan’s work for almost a month from October 4th to November 11th. On November 16th, the City Council rezoned Park Slope, making Katan’s proposed development impermissible since it exceeded height and floor area limits.

Katan applied to BSA to grandfather the permits, arguing that it had fully completed excavation and made substantial progress on the foundations. A number of Park Slope neighbors opposed the application, accusing Katan of illegally demolishing the building with a crawler excavator when his permit limited work to hand excavation. (read more…)