Manhattan pols want to stop after-hours construction

A bill doing the rounds in City Council would eliminate a loophole that allows construction companies to work late at night and early in the morning.

City Council members Daniel Garodnick, Rosie Mendez and Gale Brewer are championing the bill. Currently, construction crews can get approval for round-the-clock work as long as they secure a variance from the Department of Buildings. Crews have had no problem getting one, Garodnick – who has been a prominent critic of the Midtown East rezoning proposal — told the New York Post, because construction companies take advantage of an “undue hardship” dispensation.

The proposal would remove the hardship category and would only allow for late-night or early-morning construction in case of emergencies or when the public safety is at risk, according to the Post.

“After-hours construction work, while sometimes necessary for emergency work, is the bane of many New Yorkers’ existence,” Brewer told the newspaper.

Recently, Extell Development secured a 24/7 permit to build One57, angering neighborhood residents. [NYP] – Hiten Samtani