Developer relied on self-certified permit later found invalid. Based on a professionally certified application, Buildings issued Chaim Nussenzweig, of HMS Associates, a building permit on August 21, 2005 for a 38-unit, five-story building at 614 7th Avenue at 23rd Street in South Park Slope, Brooklyn. The next day, City Planning certified its plan to down-zone portions of South Park Slope, including Nussenzweig’s lot, thereby starting the land use review process and providing Nussenzweig about 200 days to grandfather the project.

Soon after excavation and foundation work began, Buildings initiated a special audit of the project that revealed potential violations of floor area, lot coverage, height limits, and several building code provisions, including sprinklers. Buildings issued a stop-work order, sent Nussenzweig a notice listing its objections, and outlined its intention to revoke the permit unless Nussenzweig responded. All work ceased on October 11th and Buildings revoked the permit after receiving no response.

Nussenzweig later filed a second new building permit application, which Buildings approved on November 15th. The next day, the City Council approved the rezoning of South Park Slope, down-zoning the project site. 2 CityLand 161 (Dec. 2005). The project exceeded the new zoning’s height limit by 18 feet and the floor area limit by over 10,000 sq.ft. (read more…)