ECB Reinstates Construction Company Penalty

Respondent previously relied on an agency email waiving excavation requirements.  On March 11, 2015 a Department of Buildings inspection officer issued notices of violation to Monadnock Construction for thirty building sites along the length of Egan Street in East New York, Brooklyn.  The notices were issued because the construction sites had begun excavation without notifying Buildings and obtaining excavation numbers for each site.  Monadnock contested the notices and argued they submitted the necessary AI-1form … <Read More>


Delay in Receiving LPC Permit No Defense to Failure to Acquire DOB Permit

Owner of individual landmark was ordered by Buildings to obtain a permit to correct illegal work. On September 10, 2013, Marilyn Levine, owner of an individually landmarked 1846 Greek Revival townhouse at 5 West 16th Street in Manhattan, was issued a notice of violation (NOV) by the Department Buildings for failing to comply with an order to obtain a Buildings permit to correct a violation for work done without a permit. The original violation was … <Read More>


ECB Upholds $40,000 in Fines for Illegal Signs on Bodega

Company argued that two promotional contest signs installed at bodega were accessory signs. On September 9, 2010, the City’s Department of Buildings issued four notices of violation to Contest Promotions NY LLC for two signs installed at the New Grocery and Deli located at 175 Grand Street in Brooklyn. Contest Promotions is a promotional company that works with businesses to promote contests and sweepstakes. The sign featured advertisements for the Nikita television program and … <Read More>


Bar defeats NOV charging violation of C of O

85 East 4th Street. Image: CityLand.

East Village building’s C of O authorized meeting room, not current bar use. In 1922, the owner of 85 East 4th Street in Manhattan obtained a certificate of occupancy authorizing the building’s second floor to be used as a meeting room. Since 1948 the second floor had instead been used as a tavern space, currently occupied by the KGB Bar. On June 9, 2010, Buildings issued the building’s current … <Read More>


Artist studio NOV defeated

Four-story building containing artist studios at 56 Bogart Street in Brooklyn. Image: CityLand

Building owner allowed artist studios on floor designated for factory use. The owner of 56 Bogart Street in Brooklyn rented several fourth-floor units to artists. The artists produced items such as canvas, paper and wood objects, jewelry, lighting, and skateboards. A Buildings officer issued the owner a notice of violation for allowing occupancies contrary to what was permitted by the certificate of … <Read More>


Owner relied on C of O to defeat NOV

Owner had built non-conforming roofed terrace in one side yard and a roofed side-entrance porch in the other. Buildings approved plans for the construction of a residential building at 74 Amherst Street in Brooklyn. The approved plans showed a roofed terrace on the south side yard of the home and a roofed side-entrance porch on the north side. The home was built in 2004, Buildings inspectors signed off on the final construction, and the owner … <Read More>