Owner’s rooftop apartment did not conform to plans filed by architect with the Department of Buildings. In 2003 the Anastasia Pleskun Living Trust purchased the building located at 169 East 117 Street. The Trust hired a licensed architect in 2004 who drew up and filed self-certified plans, a process that bypassed a full review of the plans by the Department of Buildings.
Department Of Buildings
Fined $47,400 for unlawful conversion
Owner converted two-family Queens home into a six-family residence. Jimming Zhao owns a residential building located at 143-10 Beech Avenue, Queens with a certificate of occupancy for a one or two-family dwelling. On October 17, 2016 an inspector from the Department of Buildings visited the premises and found the residence altered and occupied by six families. The second floor had four single room occupancies and the first floor had two single room occupancies.
Owner penalized for neglect of Manee-Seguine Homestead
Owner of Staten Island landmark who failed to maintain property forced to give landmark to City after accruing $8.55 million in regulatory fines. The Manee-Seguine Homestead in Staten Island was built by Paulus Regrenier in 1670. The City designated the Homestead a City landmark in 1984. In September 2008, the Department of Buildings declared the Homestead was dangerous and dilapidated and ordered its demolition. The Landmarks Commission intervened, preventing the Homestead’s demolishment. Seguine Bay Estates … <Read More>
Plumber fined for 159 gas errors
Master Plumber submitted a large number of erroneous gas turn-on requests. The Department of Buildings surveyed all plumbing requests for sign-off and gas authorizations made by New York City licensed master plumbers between April 1, 2016 and October 31, 2016. The inspections by master licensed plumbers should ensure that all the necessary work and inspections have been accomplished prior to submitting a request for turning on the gas. Buildings identified ten licensed master plumbers who … <Read More>
Victoria’s Secret fined $7,200 for signs
Outdoor signs at Herald Square store exceeded the maximum allowable height. Victoria’s Secret, located in Herald Square at 1328 Broadway in Manhattan, maintained three outdoor signs that reached 37 feet above curb level. On November 23, 2015, the Department of Buildings charged Victoria’s Secret with violating the maximum allowable height of 25 feet as set out in Section 32-655 of the New York City Zoning Resolution. The officer charged Victoria’s Secret with three Class 2 … <Read More>
Agencies Distribute Information on the Dangers of Illegally-Converted Apartments
As part of campaign, list of 10 dangers created to help residents before they rent an illegally converted apartment. On December 5, 2018, the Department of Buildings in conjunction with the New York City Fire Department announced a citywide campaign to educate both tenants and property owners on the dangers of illegally-converted apartment. Representatives from both agencies will be distributing flyers throughout the five boroughs over the next three week.