Williamsburg Landlord Facing Huge Fines Over Illegal Rooftop Swimming Pool

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BROOKLYN (VINnews) — The owners of a building in Williamsburg may be facing a hefty fine, over a massive swimming pool discovered on its roof.

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A full-sized swimming pool was installed on the roof of the commercial building. The gleaming 480-square-foot above-ground pool, which apparently was used regularly this past summer, was drained this week, according to the Department of Buildings.

“New York. We know. It’s hot. We get it,” the DOB tweeted. “But please don’t try to build a rooftop swimming pool without first getting permits and hiring professionals to do the job properly.”

The three-story brick facility is on Flushing Avenue near Thornton Street. It remains a mystery whether the building’s landlord or occupants installed or used the pool.


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zoifunny
Active Member
zoifunny
1 year ago

According to the NYC DOB, that pool held around 60 tons of water.

That’s equivalent to parking 40-50 cars. All on that small rooftop…

That can potentially seriously damage the structure of the building. we don’t need another Surfside Collapse. Now, do we?

These ppl obviously didn’t think it thru…

pools belong on the ground!!!!!
pools belong on the ground!!!!!
1 year ago

its the same when people build swimming pools on their porches. the porch is rated for max 2000 pounds. a swimming pool can way 5x-10x the amount!!!! bring awareness!!!!

Yaakov Doe
Yaakov Doe
1 year ago

Archy, this is one of your most stupid comments of all time. Permits are required to ensure that the work complies with building code for the safety of the workers, residents, neighbors and emergency service personnel. I am aware of illegal cellar excavations that resulted in building collapses. To put such a pool on a roof of a building constructed of concrete would require an engineering study, possible structural reinforcement and permits.

Holy Moe
Holy Moe
1 year ago

The mikva the Kohen Gadol used on Yom Kippur was also on a roof.

Something to think about
Something to think about
1 year ago

Looks like a nice pool.

ShlomoGg
ShlomoGg
1 year ago

62.5 pounds per cubic foot of water.
X 480 sq ft. X 4 feet high
= 115, 000 pounds
= 50+ tons .
Wow!

Rochamim
Rochamim
1 year ago

Why is everyone afraid of permitting in NYC? They have the one of the fastest and greatest E-filing systems around? An engineer submits the plans on line, The plumber submits his permit on line, the electrician submits his application on line. The biggest time consumer is getting the engineer to draw up the plans and prove that the structure is able to safely support the addition. If the engineer submits his plans, he is approving the viability of the addition. The plumber and the electrician get their permits in less than five minutes. The only issue is “Is this addition structurally safe” and does it meet the building and health codes requirements.

Rochamim
Rochamim
1 year ago

One more thing, Al lot of those old buildings in Williamsburg, that are now residential buildings, were actually industrial manufacturing facilities that were super strong and overbuilt for manufacturing. Manufacturing went East and these buildings went vacant. So along came by brethren and re-purposed these edifices to house families, businesses, and other growing opportunities. I would not be surprised that the building is well able to support a pool. The term “brick building” is misleading.

New York City Department of Buildings
New York City Department of Buildings
1 year ago

Please don’t build rooftop pools
Or you will get arrested

Ruby
Ruby
1 year ago

One more point let’s separate safety from beuricratic red tape
1 million percent you don’t put up a pool on a roof with an engineer doing the math and err on the side of caution, safety of kids and people below is a deoraysa , but the city has made it impossible..to get anything done no one is looking to cut corners on filters, lifgaurds,,,I have nothing to do w this story but i know the brooklyn pool pasha very well

Normal
Normal
1 year ago

He’s trolling and everyone wastes their time replying.

ShlomoGg
ShlomoGg
1 year ago

No way that pool could hold now than 3 tons of water.
( Which could possibly bring down the building if building isn’t strong enough. But 40 tons is totally incorrect. )

HeshyEmes
HeshyEmes
1 year ago

Didn’t anyone consider that maybe, just maybe, people don’t put a 50 ton pool on a roof without confirming with a structural engineer, that the building can support the weight? Just because they didn’t go the permit route (as others mentioned, it would never get a permit, and cost 10 times as much if by done miracle they got a permit), doesn’t mean that it was unsafe.

stamnamefortrump
Noble Member
stamnamefortrump
1 year ago

Yeah the government needs it cut. Why let people have a pool on their building when they can hang out in the street in front of fire hydrants instead

Educated Archy
Educated Archy
1 year ago

Why

Maven
Maven
1 year ago

The Jewish (or if not transfer ownership to a Jew) owner should claim it’s a Mikva and cry “Antisemitism” That’s the easiest way to make the problems go away.
I built a 3 bedroom addition on my house with no permits or anything. When the city came by I told them it was a Sukka so it’s Antisemitism and they’re Nazis. I never heard from them again.

Last edited 1 year ago by Maven
Educated Archy
Educated Archy
1 year ago

Why do you need permits for everything? Let people live and stop all this regulations