Deputy Borough Commissioner Bryan Winter and Ken Lazar of Governmental Affairs came to a meeting with our community.
Few expected the crowd. It packed the small room, and spilled out into the hall. Emotions ran high, and lots of neighbors had sagas of damage by neighboring construction.
Ward Dennis asked the DoB people to introduce themselves. They spoke about how much Brooklyn wants building development, and that it is difficult because of the soft soil here. The homeowners couldn't restrain themselves, so many were so upset by the damage done to their homes. They spoke about chunks of roof falling into their yard, evacuations from homes, harrassment and threats from developers. One neighbor was out of her home for 7 months, only to move back in and find out that the following week next-door developers would be underpinning her home without giving her notice at the address they knew she had been evacuated to. And on and on.
Then Winter and Lazar said that existing community safety was their first priority. But that DoB is reactive, that is, they need a complaint to act.
They were surprised to hear that 311 does not always accept construction complaints and that people can get frustrated with the 311 route. Excessive noise can be a matter for DEP, and they can be called separately. Also complaints can be made to Gerry Esposito or Marie of CB1. We learned that there is one building inspector assigned to CB1, Andy, and that another inspector may come in depending on complaint locations and case load. When immediate safety is an issue, it might be a good idea to call the police.
As general guidelines, construction is allowed from 7am to 6pm M-F. Work at any other time requires a special variance permit for each day. And that variance must be displayed, for Saturday work, by the Thursday before. If any site is working outside of those hours, call 311.
They said homeowners should see plans of neighboring construction.
Winter recommended using DoB's BIS website and the ACRIS system (links at the right on this page). He also suggested oasisnyc.com for the big overhead picture and pshark.com. Also Department of City Planning has a "Zoning Handbook" for $8 which is a good guide for what is permitted by rezoning.
They told us about a pilot safety program, educating contractors in the South Slope area, that seemed to improve things. Peter Gillespie called for the program to go borough wide, since we are in a crisis situation.
DoB asked the community for a list of sites where construction damages neighbors. A list is in the works and will be to them within a week of the meeting. Lazar (and possibly Winter) will return in a month to report.
Diana Reyna's office sent a representative. Yassky's office did not send anyone to the meeting even though they were notified.
