South Park Slope Community Group

*Jack Locicero* and *Henry Radusky* of Bricolage have pulled down the neighborhood bakery Rojas, on 15th street and 8th Avenue, to start construction of another of their unwanted buildings. A building that has been off and on hit with Stop Work orders becuase of numerous violations.

See image of the Rojas Bakery below.

It appears that, again, the DOB has not been able to protect the community. This work has taken place without the required 5-day advance notice to neighbors and other demolition regulations that are on the books. Has anyone every been handed a demo notice? We’re lucky the NYPD doesn’t enforce their laws like the DOB.

*Wednesday October 19th* The City Planning Commission (CPC) unanimously passed the South Park Slope ULURP. That leaves two more hurtles until our goal is reached. Next stop is the City Council Sub Committee on Zoning. Their Public Hearing will be November 14th. Please make plans to attend this meeting.

*New York Times, City Section. Sunday 10/09.*

When more than 100 blocks of Park Slope were rezoned in 2003 to limit the height of new buildings, developers looked south, just outside the newly restricted territory, to an area that was populated not by stately brownstones but by humble wood-frame and brick houses.

Complete article can be seen on the New York Times website.

*Park Slope Courier*

Charles Hack

City Planning commissioners and the Brooklyn Borough president heard community members express overwhelming support – with just a couple of kinks – on plans to protect low-rise character of South Park Slope.

The City Planning Commission held its City’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure hearing on Sept. 28 at 22 Reade St. in Manhattan and Borough President Marty Markowitz held his ULURP hearing on Sept. 22 at 209 Joralemon St.

At the City Planning hearing there was standing room only, with only one lawyer speaking in opposition to the rezoning plan. At both meetings, many expressed frustration with developers who are rushing headlong to start buildings before the new zoning becomes law – and with the Building Department

*Park Slope Courier*

Charles Hack

The Buildings Department needs to consider reorganizing, hiring more staff and holding a review of a procedure that allows architects to self-certify plans for new construction, according to the borough president.

That is in the wake of a string of complaints that developers are putting, quality of life and lives at risk as they rush to develop the South Slope before new downzoning laws take hold, and that the Buildings Department has been unable to police construction sites.

“The Department of Buildings needs reorganization and, certainly in the next city budget, a significant increase in staff,” said Borough President Marty Markowitz at the end of a ULURP meeting on Sept. 22 at Borough Hall to consider the rezoning of South Park Slope and Green-Wood Heights.

“Considering all permits for housing that this borough is experiencing, there needs to be a serious review of ending self-certification.”

The Department of Buildings said they would participate in a hearing if asked to do so, but declined to say whether or not the procedure of allowing architects and developers to self-certify their plans is flawed.

“If we are requested to testify, we will testify,” said Jennifer Givner, the press secretary for the Department of Buildings. At the ULURP meeting, residents had a litany of complaints, including builders working after hours, demolishing buildings without erecting hoarding around building sites, removing asbestos without following safety procedures, and even workers intimidating local residents who complain about noise.

Residents complained that pleas to the city’s 311 have often fallen on deaf ears, as building inspectors often do not follow up on complaints, or respond too late.

“The Department of Buildings needs greater resources to ensure compliance of both zoning and building codes,” said John Burns, of the South Park Slope Community Group.

Givner promises that some help is on the way.

“We are going through a major recruitment program to attract quality individuals to become inspectors and employees of the department,” said Givner.

Alan Richtmyer, who has lived on 21st Street since 1988, complained that construction work proceeded without permits, cracks appeared in his walls after digging undermined his building, and water damaged his property.

“These are our homes. The impact on our lives is daily,” said Richtmyer. “My story must be one of hundreds in this neighborhood.”

“Developers seem to be above the law,” Richtmyer said.

Bo Samadjopoulos, who says he has worked for in construction for 40 years and has worked for 15 years for the NYC Department of Transportation, says that he has seen developers pouring concrete foundations without adding reinforcing steel forms or wire.

“I don

Rojas Bakery is coming down. *Correction, has come down.*

*_UPDATE:_*
With the purchase of 406 15th St., Jack Locicero and Bricolage have found their work around for the “Stop Work” order in place at #408. Even though their architect, Henry Radusky, has had his “Self Certification” status revoked by the DOB, Bricolage has solved that one by having another architect in the firm “Certify” the project. Also in violation of DOB regulations, the plans are not on file at the DOB for review by the public.

The developer has chopped down a neighbors beautiful 60′ plus tree, a tree that was IN HER YARD! And now Verizon has put all the neighborhood phone lines in another neighbors yard “temporarily.” They had to do this to get the lines out of the way of the backhoes that will no doubt be working overtime. Digging and drilling has begun in earnest!

Sounds like another lawful, community friendly, project doesn’t it? Once more DOB seems to be deaf to our pleas for help while a developer runs roughshod over our community. When will this stop?

9/25/05. Plans are on file for a new building with Jack Locicero and Bricolage (the same developers of two other 12 story projects on 15th and 16th street). The plans call for a 7 story high and 2 basement level project at the site of the Rojo Bakery, *406 15th street.* This is the same location where a Stop Work was issued by the DOB for #408. And it is still in effect. So they just purchased #406 and applied for a new permit. With the Self Certification program they are just going ahead on their own. *Self Certification for new developments must end!*

“More details on 408 15th Street and other properties at risk.”:http://www.southsouthslope.com/?page_id=7