PROBE URGED IN CONDO ROW
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, October 3, 2005, 12:00 AM
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A "DISGRACED" architect rammed through plans for three south Park Slope condo buildings allegedly riddled with violations and the Buildings Department allowed it, a state official has charged. Assemblyman James Brennan (D-Park Slope) fired off a scathing letter last week to Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes and Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn about alleged "irregularities" between the Buildings Department and architect Henry Radusky of Bricolage Designs. Officials from both law enforcement offices said they were probing the allegations. Brennan charged the Buildings Department routinely "rubber-stamps" allegedly illegal plans submitted by Radusky. Officials then failed to crack down on alleged violations found by community advocates, Brennan said. "We therefore request a complete review of all projects by Bricolage Designs that have been permitted by the [Buildings Department] and an investigation into practices and irregularities at [the Buildings Department] that have led it to permit illegal construction," Brennan wrote in the Sept. 29 letter. Brennan also asked that construction on all Bricolage projects be halted during the investigation - which a Buildings Department spokeswoman said the law didn't allow. A Hynes spokesman said they were looking into the allegations. Investigation Department spokeswoman Emily Gest said, "We have been aware of the matter and it has been under review.
" Brennan's allegations primarily involve three large-scale developments underway in south Park Slope that have sparked a community uproar. Furious residents are locked in a race against time with the developers, who are barreling ahead to get the buildings started before a planned rezoning of the area takes place as early as November. Among Brennan's allegations are: . The Buildings Department approved plans for a nine-story building at 408 15th St. in November 2004, though it relied on a loophole for faculty housing that had been thrown out by Buildings officials two months earlier. . Construction was allowed to continue unimpeded on two 12-story buildings, one at 162-166 16th St., the other at 178-186 15th St., while officials promised to investigate charges the buildings were taller than allowed under the law. Buildings Department spokeswoman Jennifer Givner said the department "will fully cooperate" with any investigation. "We are certainly stepping up our efforts to make sure that all the work going on does comply," Givner said. Radusky did not return calls for comment. ehays@nydailynews.
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