Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn's Williamsburg waterfront may be booming, but much of its new condo construction is being brought to a halt by city inspectors.
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Department of Buildings agents have been cracking down on new development projects along the burgeoning Williamsburg and Greenpoint waterfronts, issuing stop-work orders to 20 of 29 existing excavation sites.
Robert LiMandri, the first deputy commissioner of operations, said the Buildings Department decided to focus there because too many developers are racing against each other trying to build first – many times putting the foundations of neighboring properties at risk.
"Handing out violations just goes so far, so if we shut them down until they can comply with laws, it hits them where it counts," he said.
Among some of the problematic projects shut down by the DOB is a six-story, 29-unit complex at 462 Keap St., where guardrails weren't in place to protect adjoining buildings during drilling.
And a four-story project at 277 S. Second St., where protective fencing was deemed defective and nearby properties were at risk from digging. [NY Post]
It’s about time. Builders often don’t care about the laws or their neighbors. They know that the faster they get the job moving, the less likely that anyone will stop them. And even less likely to make them reverse what’s already been done. This is happening all over the city, particularly with all the new condos popping up all around.