Solar Photovoltaic System Image Credit: DOB
Green Roofs and Solar Roof Systems should help buildings throughout the city maintain appropriate temperatures while cutting down on energy costs and emissions. On November 15, 2019, the Department of Buildings announced the effectiveness of Local Laws 92 and 94 of 2019. Local Law 92 (Intro 0276) was originally introduced by Council Member Donovan J. Richards on January 31, 2018 and Local Law 94 (Intro 1032) was introduced by Council Member Rafael L. Espinal, Jr. on July 7, 2018. The bills were approved by City Council on April 18, 2019, adopted by the administration on May 19, 2019 and returned unsigned by the Mayor the next day. These bills were introduced to provide buildings with insulation and combat heat island effect. Heat island effect has been tied to increased energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, heat-related illness and deaths.
(read more…)
Council Members Ydanis A. Rodriguez, Rafael Salamanca Jr., Ben Kallos and Mark Levine Image Credit: City Council
The additional bills should help the public and City administration react in the fight against Legionnaire’s disease. On March 28, 2019, the City Council approved Int. No 1158, 1149-B, 1164-A and 1166-A, a package of bills regarding the maintenance and inspection of cooling towers. The bills assist in the implementation and enforcement of Local Law 77 of 2015, which was enacted in response to an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease. The bills respectively address public information availability, electronic reminders for inspection and certification, annual reporting and future assessments of cooling towers.
(read more…)
Top Image: Council Member Fernando Cabrera/Image Credit: Jeff Reed
Bottom Image: Council Member Ben Kallos/Image Credit: John McCarten
The four proposed bills would provide the community and elected officials with the tools to make informed decisions about developments in their neighborhoods. On September 26, 2019, the City Council’s Land Use and Governmental Operations Committees held a hearing on four proposed bills that will increase transparency regarding new developments in the City, specifically with the transfer of development rights and testimony at the Board of Standards and Appeals. The four bills are a response to the recent development of supertall out-of-context skyscrapers in the City and the lack of information provided to the community during the development process.
(read more…)
The After-Hours Variance Map shows where after-hours construction is currently permitted throughout the city. Image Credit: DOB
New tool latest in series to promote construction and buildings transparency. On October 16, 2019, the Department of Buildings released a new interactive map that shows all construction sites across the city where permits have been issued to allow for construction work outside of normal business hours. (read more…)
Image Credit: NYC DOB.
Buildings refused to grant class A crane license after applicant failed to demonstrate that he possessed three years of experience under the direct supervision of a licensed machine operator. Leo Boccia applied to the Department of Buildings for a class A license to operate a hoisting machine. Boccia’s application included affidavits that showed he had been supervised from January 2011 to December 2014 by a class A license holder while completing class C2 set-ups. The affidavits also stated that Boccia was supervised by a class A license holder when he completed class A crane set-ups from October 2, 2014 to October 31, 2014. Buildings denied Boccia’s application and Boccia filed an article 78 petition asking the court to annul the determination of Buildings. (read more…)
Dana Ford Car Dealership in Staten Island. Image Credit: Google Maps.
During the demolition of a Staten Island building an employee was killed when the floor collapsed. Dana Ford, a car dealership in Staten Island, New York, contracted with Formica Construction, Inc. to build a new facility at 266 West Service Road, Staten Island, and demolish Dana Ford’s old facility. Buildings approved the construction plan, but Formica never obtained the necessary permit to commence the demolition. On the morning of November 28, 2014, four Formica employees entered the old facility around 7:30 a.m. The mezzanine floor of the building collapsed, crushing and killing Delfino Mendizabal, a Formica employee. (read more…)
