Demerara Engineering, PLLC to Supervise Construction of Armory Plaza, Brooklyn

RAW BROWN CANE SUGAR























Barbie Princess Fairytopia MiniKingdom Playset by Mattel now features this cute pastel colored Lil' Tomboyz Excavator from its Princess @ Work Collection. Pit optional.



















Who you all gonna call when the vibrations return?


REVISED PW1 & TR1 FILED HEREWITH TO ADD OSCAR WALTERS OF DEMERRARA
ENGINEERING PLLC TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF CONTROLLED INSPECTIONS.

DEMERARA ENGINEERING PLLC
160 PEARL STREET,, New York, NY 10005
Professional Title:
PE
License Number:
68504
Filing Representative:
Ali/Vargas Nazeema/Roger
Phone:
718-259-1100
Bricolage Designs
6321 New Utrecht Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219

length without breadth

406 15th Street Armory Plaza Excavation

The Principle of Superposition and Original Horizontality



















Starting each week day at 7am, semi-trailer dumping rigs and smaller sized dump trucks wait in line for their chance to fill up with dirt. It doesn't take the excavator very long. Just a few minutes before they are full and another truck moves in to take its place. 300,000 cubic feet of misplaced soil that needs to be removed. So goes life living on the edge of what may be the largest open-pit mining operation in the entire South Slope region of these United States of America. Did you know that New York State is one of only 15 states that claims an official state soil? Who said Honeoye? Thats right! Only It's pronounced "Hay-e-a-yeah.” Our Honeoye series consists of very deep, well-drained soils formed in glacial till which is strongly influenced by limestone and calcareous shale. They are nearly level to very steep soils on convex upland till plains and drumlins. The Honeoye soil is in the Alfisols soil order and is classified as fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Glossic Hapludalfs. Gesundheit! God Blessed Nicolas Steno.

I can't recall ever seeing any recent building construction utilizing this particular foundation technique, then again not every new development in Brooklyn has three levels of underground parking. Most of what you see around is the standard poured in place concrete foundation cellar walls. So far the pilings seem to be holding their ground. In the mean time the earth on the 16 Street side of the fence is thawing out and continues to settle down.

Blogmaster "Jon Brownstoner" De-cloaks.

*SPOILER ALERT*






Nom de plume?

The Brooklyn based blogosphere nearly collapsed into its self today with news that some 37 year old, white, married dude is actually... believe it or not, The Jon Brownstoner.
According to an article in the March 26th edition of The New York Observer, some guy named "Jonathan Butler" has come forward claiming to actually be the real Jon Brownstoner.

Brownstone.com's message boards exploded with dozens of anonymous comments all claiming, "Not fair, I'm Jon Brownstoner!". Among those besides Mr. Butler who are also laying claim to the title: Eletricgreek, Crown Heights Proud(the real one), and something named linusvanpelt.


IMBY Labs was able to procure this satellite image of what we believe is the bonafide, never-ever before seen head of Mr. Brownstoner.





The question on every one's mind right now... "Hey Jon, wow... who did you use to redo the brownstone on your front stoop? It looks great!"

Hole

As the excavator begins removing the ground, some 300,000 cubic feet before it's all over, the steel foundation piles are being revealed. So far I can't report hearing any melancholy cries, loud weeping, or gnashing of teeth coming from the pit.


















The earth moves first along the rear lot line, pictured above.












Pictured above. The Eighth Avenue line. The Baptist church is on the far right. 1504 8th Ave. is on the far left.

Rebar and Pile Caps

La piece de resistance

The pile caps have been poured and work begins on removing the load-o-soil that has dominated the centre of the site. The plywood fence at the bottom of the photo divides the construction from the rear yards of the homes along 16th Street.


















Within the plywood forms, an artistic arrangement of re-bar awaits concrete. The Port-o-John gives one a sense of scale.

Like a virgin, being touched for the very first time.

"When the little dwarfs came home at night they found Snow-White lying upon the ground. No breath came from her parted lips, for she was dead. They lifted her tenderly and sought for some poisonous object which might have caused the mischief, unlaced her frock, combed her hair, and washed her with wine and water, but all in vain-dead she was and dead she remained. They laid her upon a bier, and all seven of them sat round about it, and wept as though their hearts would break,"

-From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs











Resurrection

In the familiar animated Disney version of Snow White, the Prince, already deeply in love with Snow White, arrives in his search for her, raises the lid of the glass coffin, and offers "Love's first kiss''. She then awakens after three days with great delight into his arms as the proprietary forest animals and Dwarfs rejoice at her resurrection.

In the original Grimm Brothers' slightly different version of the story, a Prince just passing through the forest, sees the beautiful maiden in the coffin, and persuades the Dwarfs to let him carry it off with him to his kingdom. When they stumble over a shrub while carrying the coffin, the piece of poisoned apple is dislodged from Snow White's throat, and she awakens to his open arms and a declaration of love from the Prince follows.

In the Disney version the story ends with the wicked Queen falling off a cliff after being struck by lightening. The Grimm Brothers have the old hag attending Miss White's wedding, but then dancing to her death in a pair of red-hot iron shoes.

Prince Karl Fischer
On February eighth two thousand and seven, building permits were once again renewed by Prospect Terrace, LLC on that very troubled lot, 1638 Eighth Avenue. Five years in the unmaking, this sleeping condominium has been poisoned by unsafe and defective excavation and shoring work. Residents on Prospect Avenue have complained about lost earth, sinking back yards, defective retaining walls, and excessive vibrations that were judged bad enough by the D.o.B. to shut the pile driving down. Oh, and the water...


If Snow White teaches us anything, it's that if we wait passively, quietly, patiently, remaining absolutely still in our prettiest dresses, then someday our Prince will come and everything will end once more, happily ever after.


Forgiveness blanket

Snow flakes falling from the sky like unharnessed day laborers. What yonder magic "a two inch thick blanket" of fresh snowfall has to transform a shit hole into a pristine winter wonderland of possibilities. Mother Nature may have thrown a white tarp over this frozen corpse, laid out between Prospect Avenue and Windsor Place in the South Slope, but now I'm feeling rejuvenated once more. I haven't felt this giddy since I drank all the "water" from my son's Curious George snow globe. Regardless of my past mistakes, my flaws and failures, I feel like anything is possible. Wonder Works Construction, all is forgiven.

PILE CAPS Everyone!

If I had a hammer, or a Pile Integrity Tester

Beginning last Monday February 26th, workers began building the plywood molds, that when filled with concrete, will form what's referred to in the millinery trade as "pile caps". Pile caps are large concrete blocks into which the heads of the sunken piles are embedded. The forms pictured below are on the rear property line. It doesn't look like they are being embedded though. It looks like they are being set, more or less, on top of the pile heads. These pile caps are supposed to distribute the loads evenly amongst its neighbors. Let's hope that what's known as low strain impact testing was performed by the on site engineer to determin if any cracks or voids exist in the burried foundation piles before further construction begins. All it takes is a single blow from a hand held hammer and some complex math according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM D5882-00)

chazir-treif
The drilling rig is back in action boring holes directly (let's say 10 feet) behind 1502 8th Avenue. It looks and sounds like they are using the "drill inside the pipe method" as specified by the Department of Buildings. Somewhere on the site there is or there is not a forensic engineer from the DoB over-seeing all of this work. Listening to the familiar pounding of metal against metal makes me think the engineers are out sick today.

575 5th Avenue ULURP Application

Developer: Fifth Avenue Committee A 29 year old South Brooklyn based community development corporation whose mission it is to pursue social and economic justice by developing and managing affordable housing and community facility projects.

Architect: Amie Gross Architects, AGA

Sustainable Design: Community Environmental Center, Inc. A not-for-profit design and consulting service specializing in green building technology. (LEED)

Contractor: To be determined through a competitive bid process. Estimated 18 month start to finish build time. (They better pay the construction workers a prevailing wage or the community is going to be royally pissed.)

Cost: Estimated $7.75 million financed through a combination of HUD's Supportive Housing Loan Program and a 9% Low Income Housing Tax Credit. Other sources to be determined.

SO WHAT ARE WE GETTING?
To be built on the existing city owned, municipal parking lot on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 16th Street in South Park Slope, Brooklyn. (According to a Housing, Preservation and Development representative, the Department of Transportation has decided that the lot is "under used"). The building's design calls for 5 stories on the Fifth Avenue commercial side, a 5 story "tower" at the corner, and then moving on down in height to a contextual 4 stories on its 16th street side. Access to the residential portion of the building will be through a gated "mews" entrance at 16th St. The mews connects to a fully landscaped back yard outdoor public garden visible from 16th street. The resident entrance will be manned by a 24 hour security checkpoint.

The "green" aspects of the building will include: High efficiency centralized, gas powered HVAC system that will limit the impact on the areas electric grid while eliminating unsightly air conditioner sleeves. High use of recycled and renewable low/non toxic building materials such as recycled glass and plastic, and bamboo flooring. A potential green roof is also being discussed.

There will be 2000 square feet of street level commercial space. Possible lease preferences will be made for local Slope businesses and those businesses owned by women and minorities. (What this means, for example, is that you are more likely to see an Ozzie's Coffee shop occupy the space, than a Starbucks)

In addition to the residential apartments, there will be 2,900 square feet of space for the provision of supportive services to the residents. These spaces will be operated by the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS) a non profit that works to reduce homelessness, advance effective housing and service initiatives, and provide support for people with mental illness and other special needs. There will be no medical facility or methadone clinic on the premises.

The apartments will come fully furnished.

There will be a live-in superintendent.


So who will occupy the building?

The building will provide 49 rent stabilized, single occupancy, studio efficiency apartments. They will be approximately 300 square feet in size. All tenants will be single adults that earn at or under 60% of the Area Median Income, currently defined as $29,775 annually- Total housing costs will be no greater than 30% of gross household income, or $745 monthly. FAC will hold the individual leases and be the managing agent after the building is completed.

As part of the FAC lease rider under the ShelterPlus Program, single person occupancy will be strictly enforced. For instance, if a women should become pregnant, she will have to leave her apartment. Other rules restrict pets and limit overnight guests to a maximum of 3 consecutive days.

Of the 49 units;

60% of the units (29) will be filled by formerly homeless adults with mental health issues that currently reside in transitional housing.

40% of the units (20) will be filled by Fifth Avenue Committee through its Housing Notification list according to preferences set by the local community. To date, senior citizens and youth aging out of foster care have been identified as target populations. I may have heard wrong, but I understand there is a very long list.

IMBY Comments: Four meetings in seven days among other issues.

The idea of building affordable housing for the formally homeless mentally ill at this location is not what's upsetting the local population. What's causing the unhappiness is the feeling that FAC is trying to rush the ULURP application on through with out any input or debate from the community. FAC denies that they are trying to rush anything. Community Board 7 is requesting that Borough President Marty Markowitz adjourn and push back his public hearing scheduled for Tuesday February 20th until after their scheduled meeting and full community board vote on February 21st. This seems like a reasonable request.

One of the few good things to come along.
FAC's strong focus on community organizing and their commitment to the rights of low-income people to control their own destinies... Their belief that volunteer efforts of local residents in collaboration with non-profits can bring forth beneficial changes in their community is shared by the residents of the South Slope, Windsor Terrace, and Green Wood Heights. FAC's recent behavior seems to be in direct contradiction to their core values in the way in which the plans for 575 have apparently been "revealed" fully formed, to the public. There is nothing left to discuss. The local residents have a prior history of being terribly disrespected by private developers in the area, especially on 15th and 16th Streets. If the residents feel that they have been left out of this public housing development discussion, than FAC needs to examine what went wrong, at least from a public relations standpoint. Maybe next time send out invitations to the party a little earlier.

So far they have done a great job at dispelling myths and misconceptions in regards to our unfounded fears about who will occupy the building. The great majority of local citizens are not anticipating a Trojan horse filled with ex con pedophiles, to be set loose on their unsuspecting children. This building will not be a temporary shelter like the Armory up the slope on 8th Avenue. The new occupants will be capable of paying their own way to the best of their abilities.

Parking place insanity.
As for those who believe the 49 low income people moving into 575 Fifth Avenue will somehow consume all available parking in the area... that's just nonsense. Anger should be directed at all the private developers who have used various loopholes to avoid providing any off street parking for their luxury condos. Placing the entire burden on one public housing facility is unfair. I don't recall anyone complained over the last two years as all the parking lots on 15 Street were converted into condos.

One step forward, two steps back.
With all the displacement going on, these 49 units will hardly make up for all the recently lost rent stabilized apartments in the area, especially those now disappearing from the up zoned 4th Avenue. These 49 new apartments may seem like a drop in the affordable housing bucket, but not if you are one of those lucky drops.

IMBY supports affordable housing at this location and hopes that their application is approved.

Internal Affairs Probe: Forensic Colonoscopy

The big question mark. Internal Affairs Division/Building's Special Investigations Unit to examine all things Armory Plaza?





















This interdepartmental complaint (below) was recently posted on the Department of Buildings web page for the Jack Locicero Armory Plaza development. The one going up, or should I say down, at 406 15th Street in Brooklyn.
Something of a surprise when you make your daily visit to the DoB's BIS web page and find an investigative inspection assigned to the Internal Affairs Division-The agency's Office of Investigations and Discipline (IAD)and the Building's Special Investigations Unit (BSIU). The BSIU among other things, conducts investigations into alledged acts of misconduct, fraud, and corruption involving city employees, engineers, expediters, architects, and contractors, any individuals and or businesses engaged in dealings with the DoB. Their findings are passed on to New York City's Department of Investigations who supervise the BSIU.

















I don't want to speculate as to the reason for this action before we at IMBY have a chance to poke around a little more, preferably with an old, rusty IMBY Brands surplus endoscope... But one thing is for sure, we may finally have an explanation for why, for almost two years now and even after some 70 complaints, and an emergency evacuation order, the DOB has been more or less unresponsive to our requests for help. This investigation may actually be an example of the "transparency in government" that I keep hearing so much about. It may also explain why there has been no work done to the site for the last two weeks, even though no stop work order is recorded. Lets hope that the investigative powers that be leave no salmon colored pre-cast masonry unit unturned during their investigation.
(Whistle blowers with any information can drop us an e-mail at Imby@nyc.rr.com)
































Bend over and grab your ankles.
Another big question mark still hangs over the other malignant Locicero/Radusky 9 story polyp on 22nd Street. There's a case of chronic Certificate of Occupancy irritation that continues to draw the Environmental Control Board's wrath.

Maybe the DOI is only interested in recovering all those unpaid fines? What about "contractor integrity"? What about self-certification and building according to the plans submitted to the DoB? What about the DOB itself?
Here's a good opportunity to get the DoB up on the table for a thorough examination. We will be surprised if everything appears smooth and pink, with no abnormal growths, pouches, bleeding, or inflammation.

You can watch ants eating mashed potatoes...

Or you can watch this NY1 news story about the 16th Street sink holes.

Anger Management

I have this unwritten rule not to look out my rear window until I have made breakfast, eaten breakfast, cleaned up after breakfast. The reason? You never know what you will see out there that could potentially fuck the living shit out of your day. Today I broke that rule and looked. Big mistake. No Lucky Charms today.

What did I observe? There was a man standing in my back yard randomly pulling the branches off my weeping juniper with what appeared to be a pair of pliers. This tree has special importance to me that I will not bother you with at this time. Needless to say I was not a happy WEBLOW.

Besides pruning our tree, the man seemed to be messing around with the cable lines. The entire block's phone/cable lines have been in a continuous mess ever since construction began 18 months ago. We lose service on a regular basis. Every time the foundation contractors reach over the fence with the extended arm of their backhoe to unload a bucket of dirt, they risk snagging the now sagging lines. Sometimes they wait till after the sun sets to unload, being the drama queens that they are.
They have even knocked down the pole once before. Verizon owns these poles. They lease them to Time Warner. Verizon's engineering department has told me that they will eventually redo the entire block when all construction is finished. Verizon's experience with contractors is not good. Contractors bad. Contractors break things Verizon just got done fixin'.

So what I first assumed to be another trespass by the Armory Plaza Gang, turned out to be subcontractors working for Time Warner Cable. They were not wearing uniforms. If they had been wearing hard hats, I would have know right away that they were not affiliated with the construction site. No one in the Armory Plaza Gang ever wears a hard hat.

I called Time Warner to vent. The Time Warner operator asked if they had gotten permission to work in my yard. I tell her it's not the fact that they are working in my yard with out permission so much as the unathorized tree pruning. The Time Warner operator tells me to CALL THE POLICE-CALL 911 AND HAVE THEM ARRESTED FOR TRESPASSING. Wow, operator, how stone cold you are.

According to psychologists, there are something like ten kinds of anger. Nine are bad. The good one, the constructive kind, is the one that makes you donate 10% of your earnings to save endangered amphibian species and adopt orphans from war torn countries. I was feeling the kind of primal anger that needs to be "shared". The kind one feels right before one smashes a windshield out with a golf club. The kind that Mother Nature uses to thin the herd- To "off" people with unknown congenital malformations of certain thin walled arteries located deep in the brain.


Being Tubed. A few days later someone sends me a link to You Tube. Someone named Blasfinny. In the first video, two guys are struggling with a ladder, trying to get over the plywood construction fence. It looks life threatening.
The next video the same thing, except the next thing you hear, but do not see right away, is someone screaming at the top of their lungs to "get the fuck off my property". My silly neighbors!
Video #3


Video #1








In catechism class, the nuns would tell you that Jesus sees everything you do and hears everything you say... Maybe You Tube is god. Will this go on the permanent record?

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has decided to make the city of New York the first in the nation to allow the transmission of digital photographic evidence directly to our trusty 311 and 911 operators. It will happen in the next 2 years. The revolution starts here, rest of the world.

The Great Abyss. A Glimpse Into 2007

The back yard garden of 391 16th Street. Reminder: It's still not too late to plant your spring flowering bulbs.

Here's a suggestion. When the Department of Buildings starts receiving multiple 311 "failure to protect property" complaints concerning a particular construction site, a flashing red light would go off in Commissioner Mossad's office and he would alert a specific crack team of inspectors who would rush out to investigate. They would be assigned to that job until everyone involved is reasonably satisfied, and/or locked behind bars. That way there would be some continuity, some ability to chart adverse structural changes to the property over time, some way to prevent the shameful things that are happening to all the properties with-in spitting distance of the notorious 406-408 15th Street Armory Plaza destruction site.



Let's face it, the DoB is failing miserably in regards to protecting the surrounding properties... maybe as a morale booster if the DoB required its inspectors to wear one piece spandex blue and gold unitards, capes with the NYC BUILDINGS logo, and shiny black patent leather utility belts with matching boots... at the least they would still have some self esteem left to lose.
I know what you are thinking. We need to rotate inspectors to prevent the possibility of malfeasance and bribery. Hell, the way things are leaning in the contractors favor at 406, I would be truly disappointed if we find out no one has been receiving gratuities. Wow, free favors, that would really mean they don't know their underpinnings from a hole in the ground.


We must remain relentless.
So we had a steady tsunami of DoB inspectors out to look at the new damage. Are two inspectors in one week considered a tsunami? Two different inspectors among a half dozen who have made visits this far. One who admitted this isn't his "area" and another who mysteriously disappeared after 5 minutes.

Unfortunately they had to be dragged kicking and screaming before they would come out to take a peek. Special thanks to Sergeant Ward at the 72nd police precinct for your help. Sergeant Ward had been out to the site to assess the damage months ago after a 5 foot deep sink hole formed taking out a utility pole and a tree. In his most recent visit, he immediately saw how bad the situation had deteriorated since his last visit and immediately made a call to the DoB.

That's right... The police are now calling the DoB telling them they better get their asses over to the building site or else. Maybe the police just know where to look for them, or maybe DoB inspectors are supplementing their income by providing warm bodies for criminal line ups. But for what ever reason they showed up, you could tell their hearts weren't in to it. "Did see cracks, no action necessary based upon physical observation." Complaints resolved. Maybe if the same inspector came twice, he could see the difference a day makes, crack wise.

So through the magic of solid state digital technology, the folks at Imby Labs bring you this weeks Crack-Up Date.











The before, before photo.
This is the retaining wall between 393 and 391. Pay attention to the metal fence pole at the far right. The 2 pictures below show the progression.



















A crack starts to open during the installation of the pilings. This is about 10 feet away from the pilings. The damage zone: as the sink holes form along the boring line they start to pull on surface structures, in this case the chain link fence.



















This is a recent photo. The end of the fence has been pulled underground and is now burried. Notice the black crack in the dirt next to the red bricks. This crack continues parallel to the pilings for 60 to 80 feet. There are two more of these crack lines that run like dotted lines the entire width of 4 neighboring properties, all parallel to the pilings. When a rod is placed in these cracks, it sinks to a depth of 2 feet without any pressure what so ever. The crack lines are 18' and 30' feet from the 406 fence line, just a few feet from the foundations of our homes. So more or less it appears that there are three great massive sections of earth moving in the direction of the 60' deep foundation holes. Without any shoring, the first section has been drawn down to fill the voids left after the borings. The other sections following the first, moving in the same path.



















A gap opens twenty feet from the construction fence.























In this photo see how the fence has now been ripped from the rear wall of 393 16th Street.





These pictures really don't convey the serious nature of the damage. You have to see it to believe it. Most of this movement happened during the recent rains.
In the 18 months since they started this project, the Armory Plaza Gang has not made a single repair to any ones property. What they have done, and very well I might add, is to maintain a duplicitous facade. In the name of "Making Repairs" they have dumped load after load of fill, without the permission of some of the owners, on top of our backyards in an effort to conceal the damage; covering up the sinking without ever addressing the reason for the ground to start sinking in the first place. Is this criminal activity? The Locicero's and the DoB seem to think that this is all just superficial pre-existing cracks. Remember 1504 took 5 months to condemn, and it had no visible cracks in the beginning.




In a recent conversation with the developers son, who is also the contractor doing the foundation work, he assured us, "don't worry, I'm going to take care of everything."

"When might those repairs be made?", we inquired.

"As soon as the ground finishes settling", he said.

Finally we agree on one thing. The ground is settling! Now what are we going to do to stop this before it's too late. If Commissioner Mossad had a red light in his office, it would be flashing right now. To think this disaster was entirely preventable... the forced evacuation of 1504... the damage to the historic Memorial Baptist Church... and now the damage to six other properties. What a shame. What a crime. And you know the sadest joke, the Lociceros are now crying about being constantly harassed by the neighboring homeowners. "Mind your own fucking business" is the best they can hurl over the fence when they "catch" us taking pictures of the damage to our properties.





















Detail of "pre-existing" patio crack. One of many forming as the undermined slab shifts. It moves apart about a half inch per day when it rains.






















The sink hole acts up again after being "top filled" a few days before. You can see the brick edging is pulling away at this point. These bricks have been mortored in place for the last 12 years without so much as a hairline crack forming in that entire time. Completly destroyed in three days.






















The patios current condition. It is slowly moving away from the house and towards the sink hole in two great sections.


A quick reminder to all my angry pitch fork wielding neighbors, as part of the NYC DoB 2006-2009 Strategic Plan, Commissioner Lancaster has stated that,

"Customer service is a top priority at the Department of Buildings. From providing our customers with plain language documents to utilizing cutting-edge technology, we're always looking for new ways to improve our services. This year a number of initiatives will be implemented to ensure the safe and lawful use of all of New York City’s 950,000 buildings." (949,999 not counting 1504 8th Avenue)

Keep a look out for the following: Homeowners Night - Expanding to All Five Borough
Beginning January 17, 2007, all five borough offices located in the protected "Green Zone" will open their doors every Tuesday evening from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. exclusively to homeowners. During this time, staff will be available to provide homeowners with one-on-one assistance and answer any other questions they may have even if it has to be done through 6 inch thick bullet-proof plexi glass.

When it rains, it pours.

1504 8th Avenue-Discarded crack monitors left behind at the base of the damaged side wall.
Since July these plastic two piece monitors have been removed and replaced countless times as the wall continued to deteriorate and the cracks multiplied and got wider. Now that the building has been evacuated, most likely permanently, I wonder if the monitoring will continue. No demolition or side walk shed permits have been applied for by the buildings owner, yet. If the building must come down, it will be interesting to see how the corner building, 1502 8th Avenue, will be protected.























Yesterdays rain storm transformed the construction site, both geologically and bureaucratically speaking, into a quagmire. The sandy clay soil tried to absorb as much water as possible and then when it became over saturated, rivers formed that sought out the lowest lying areas, finally pooling at the lots southwest corner.

The construction crew took the day off. Of coarse, a Department of Buildings inspector finally showed up, (with helpful prodding by Community Board 7) in response to the multiple 311 complaints concerning unsafe conditions and damage to neighboring properties; What is known as a "failure to protect adjoining properties" complaint. Although the inspector found the fence line in terrible condition and evidence of the ground sinking, cracking, and shifting, he said he was not able to write any violations. According to him, it seems that someone needs to be actually doing construction work on the site during the inspection for a violation to be issued. The inspector listened carefully and seemed genuinely concerned, empathizing on what life must be like being surrounded by multiple knuckleheads- referring to the other construction sites at 400 15th St. and 1638 8th Avenue (aka Lake Windsor). Yet a quick look at the DoB Buiding Information System web site will show all complaints to be "resolved". Disappointing to say the least. Everyday old cracks get wider and new cracks form. At this point in the game, we are seeking an official time-out, so that foundation work already performed can be examined by engineers to see that it has been built "as per plans" and, exisiting damages can be inventoried and documented before the big dig begins.
Then there is still the matter with Memorial Baptist Church to investigate... the list gets longer everyday.

No really, really, imminently perilous to life... again!

Deja Vu weekend.

Without the usual bells and whistles, the DoB quietly pasted Vacate Orders on the front door of 1504 8th Avenue this past weekend. Remember the infamous Vacate Order of July 2006 had women and children, with all their belongings in tow, thrown out onto the sidewalk, scrambling to find new places to live. Unlike the first time, there was no Red Cross van parked out front, and no Department of Buildings representatives to answer questions and promissing, well just promissing.

So time has run out for the sole surviving holdout tenant, who remained in the building despite a previous vacate order, a homeless crackhead invasion, and even a life threatening basement gas leak. Everyone else decided it was too dangerous to remain in their apartments, even after the DoB reversed its decision about whether the building was safe to inhabit, by removing the Order to Vacate and installing crack monitors on the damaged walls. (We at IMBY question the timing of this most recent Vacate Order. With the highly anticipated multimillion dollar production of "Cracked, the Musical" staring Britney Spears and Johnny Knoxville scheduled to open on Broadway next week, it appears to be no more than a blatant publicity stunt.)

Plywood now covers all the windows except for this third floor tenant's apartment. Up until recently, festive Christmas lights were visible in these windows.



















































































The owner of 1504 8th Avenue, Arnold Rosenshein, received a second violation from the Brooklyn Buildings Department on December 27th, 2006 for "FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CRACKS THROW OUT FACADE" the inspector specifically concerned about "VERTICAL, DIAGONAL, AND STEP CRACKS ON LEFT AND REAR FACADE"


On January 8th, 2007 the most recent violation was issued: RE: CRACKS AT SIDE OF BLDG STRUCTURAL STABILITY CHECK REQUIRED......
"CRACK FROM CELLAR TO TOP OF PARAPET ( 4 FLOORS) CRACK AT BASE
APPROX 1 1/2" TO 1/2" AT TOP CRACKS AT REAR WALL"








































































Dominoes begin to fall?
The Pastor of the Memorial Baptist Church, Mr. Steven Christopher, is concerned about the sudden overnight formation of a large, vertical crack running the entire length of the northwestern most corner of his building. He recalls the fact that during the recent pile driving work, not more than 10 feet from this corner, vibrations could be felt throughout the entire church.

Located in this same area, an exterior set of concrete stairs has begun to pull away from the main building by as much as several inches. Another stairwell leading to the basement shows signs of recent damage to the stone foundation. If you were to draw a line parallel to the construction fence beginning with the large crack on the sidewall of 1504, and then moving out and along 8th Avenue towards the church (1506 8th Avenue), it ends up almost exactly where the new cracks in the wall of Memorial Baptist have occured. (Large sink holes continue to form along this fence line.)

An engineer has looked at the damage and he believes it to be active, recent movement. Further examination will be necessary to determine the extent and depth of these new cracks. It took only 5 short month for the cracks in 1504's walls to go from hairline to "imminently perilous to life". We can only pray, that the Building's Department gets proactive and starts spending its time and limited manpower monitoring the contractors work practices in the future, and less time spent checking crack monitors after the damage occurs.