Seen & Heard: After-Hours Construction Lament

••• A depressing comment from Bob on the subject of after-hours construction:

The subject of after-hours building permits is a recurrent one at the CB1 Quality of Life Committee meetings and seems to be very difficult to resolve. The QoL Committee held a Construction Forum and this issue (and sidewalk sheds) were the main topics. It seems that if the construction company makes a case, the permit is granted almost as of right with no input or consideration of local residents. They just wait for you to call 311 and complain (good luck with that). There is supposed to be somewhere on the DoB site where you can raise complaints about late working, noise and other issues but is is about as effective as 311. In all the discussions at these meetings I have listened to when the DoB and others have attended have left me with the strong impression that the real estate development industry completely dominates any local residents’ quality of life. If they want it, they get it. If they don’t get the permit, they often just go ahead anyway.

••• Gary Graham‘s biannual sample sale (“including the archives: 2001-2009”) is this Wednesday, Jan. 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

••• Signage is up at Antique Garage’s forthcoming Church Street outpost.

••• Curious to see the 60th floor of 28 Liberty, where Danny Meyer is said to be in talks to open a restaurant and bar? The Financial District Neighborhood Association is having a meeting and Clean Sidewalks + Safe Streets Panel this Thursday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

••• The TV show “Power” is also shooting in the W. Broadway/N. Moore area tomorrow.

••• In September, there was a report that 79 and 81 Warren were being torn down to make way for a new eight-story building. But a Department of Buildings permit from December posted at 81 Warren says a fifth and sixth floor are being added to the existing four-story building, and a permit on the DOB site says the other floors are being remodeled. Three-story 79 Warren appears to be getting remodeled, too, but there’s no mention (yet?) of a rooftop addition.

 

2 Comments

  1. That’s great – I love it when old buildings are preserved!

  2. Re late night/overnight construction: It seems that the only hope we have is for the pols to step in and restrict the DOB and DOT. How do we get them to do something? It seems like a no-brainer, and yet they sit on their hands. Are they really all in the pockets of Real Estate?

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