UNLUCKY 289 13th St.

Looks like the luck has run out for the foundation contractors working at 287-289 13th Street. However, the Stop Work Order dated November 19th, 2007 maybe a little too late for the neighboring homes at 285 and 291. A dreaded DoB-issued crack monitor is now bridging the crack that runs the full height of the front facade of 291 13th St. Just another underpinning casualty in the South Slope.

"Re: BOROUGH COMMISSIONER HAS ISSUED A 10-DAY LETTER OF INTENT.TO REVOKE APPLICATION 302359301 ON 11/09/07 ISSUE DOB STOP ORDER AND NOTE THE PERCENTAGE OF WORK COMPLETED SO FAR ON VIOLATION AND COMPLAINT."

Here is what it feels like to live next door to the construction... Two examples of the many 311 calls registered.

"CALLER STATES EXCAVATION IS OCCURRING BETWEEN ABOVE ADDRESS & ADDRESS 291..EXCAVATION IS SHAKING CALLERS BUILDING. CALLER FEELS IT'S UNSAFE"

"CALLER STATES THAT THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AT THIS LOCATION IS CREATING A VIBRATION THAT'S BEING FELT ACROSS THE STREET AT THE CALLER'S HOME"

So then, let's see how the Environmental Control Board and the Department of Buildings describe what's been going wrong at the site.

Description of Violation:
SEC:27-1026:FAILURE TO WEATHER PROOF/( )ADJ PROPERTY.UPON INSP WEATHER PROOFING OF ADJ PROPERTY IS INADEQUATE AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS ON SIDE
OF 285 A 13 ST.HEAVY RAINS HAVE PRODUCED WATER MARKS IN BASEMENT OF

Description of Violation:
FAILURE TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC & PROPERTY AFFECTED BY CONSTRUCTION
OPERATIONS.NOTED:AT ABOVE PREMISES A DEMO IN PROGRESS HAS DAMAGED THE PARTY WALL OF 285 13 ST.EXPOSING THE INTERIOR TO THE ELEMENTS. REMEDY:STOP ALL

Description of Violation:
FAILURE TO POST PERMIT FOR WORK AT PREMISES NOTED:UNDER APP#302213361N
B WAS NOT POSTED AT SITE AS PER CODE.REMEDY:POST PERMIT FOR WORK AT SITE.

Description of Violation:
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN.DEFECTS NOTED:CONCRETE FRONT YARD DUG UP LEAVING
STORAGE OF LARGE PIECES OF CONCRETE & DIRT WITH HOLES AT FRONT YARD
CREATING A HOLE APPROX 2' X 2'.REMEDY:MAINTAIN EXTERIOR FORTHWITH

Description of Violation:
WORK W/O PERMIT. AS NOTED 8' TALL WOOD FENCE ERECTED IN FRONT OF THE ABOVE ADDRESS. AS PER D.O.B RECORDS THERE IS NO PERMIT FOR FENCE. REMEDY:OBTAIN PERMIT

Description of Violation:
FAILURE TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC & PROPERTIES. UPON INSPECTION NO JOB SITE
FENCE ADJOINING PROPERTY 13 ST EXCAVATION IN PROGRESS & SOLDIER PILES
NO 8' CONSTRUCTION FENCE PROVIDED. SECT 5' X 8' MISSING AND ADJOINING

Description of Violation:
SEC:27-1032(B):FAILURE TO PROVIDE 3FT 6INCH GUARDRAILS AROUND OPEN &
ACCESSIBLE SIDES OF EXCAVATION.NOTED:AT REAR OF SITE APPROX 10' DEEP
EXCAVATION W/SHEER CUT W/NO GUARDRAILS IN PLACE AS PER CODE.REMEDY:STO

Description of Violation:
FAILURE TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC & PROPERTY AFFECTED BY CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS.NOTED:EXCAVATION SITE W/APPROX 8'DEEP SHEER CUTS DUE TO INADEQUATE & NOT ACCORDING TO APPROVED PLANS UNDERPINNING TO 291 13 ST HAS CAUA

Description of Violation:
FAILURE TO PROVIDE APPROVED PLANS AT SITE TIME OF INSPECTION.NOTED:RAK
ER SHORES INSTALLED AT 291 13 ST W/O ANY APPROVED PLANS.STOP ALL WORK
(ENTIRE TO ABOVE ADDRESS).REMEDY:PROVIDE PLANS ON RAKER SHORES)

Description of Violation:
SHEETING SHORING BRACING DOES NOT CONFORM TO APPROVED PLAN.NOTED:UNDER
APP#302213361 THROUGHOUT SITE THERE ARE 8'DEEP EXCAVATION W/SHEER CUT
EXPOSING TWO ADJOINING PROPERTIES.FOUNDATION WALLS,NO SHORING BRACING

Description of Violation:
FAILURE TO PROTECT THE SIDES OF EXCAVATION CARRIED TO A DEPTH GREATER
THAN 5FT.NOTED:THROUGHOUT SITE THERE ARE APPROX 8'DEEP SHEER CUTS AT R
EAR & TO BOTH ADJOINING PROPERTIES AT 285 & 291 13 ST EXPOSING FOUNDATION.


If the owners of 285 and 291 13th Street have trouble resolving their "difficulties" with their new neighbor, I know the name of a pretty good lawyer who can.