Behind the after-hours construction boom

From the April issue: It’s Saturday morning and the alarm clock is silent — but thanks to a new luxury condominium next door, there’s the deafening roar of a pile driver slamming metal deep into the ground.

For many New Yorkers, this is an increasingly familiar occurrence. According to an analysis by The Real Deal, the city’s Department of Buildings has over the past three years seen a dramatic increase in the volume of after-hour work permits — defined as construction done before 7 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on weekdays or at any hour during the weekend. The number of permits in 2015 — 59,895 — represents a 90 percent spike from 2012, when 31,569 permits were issued. [more]