A construction site in Harlem and DOB Commissioner Robert LiMandri

If the city’s Department of Buildings has its way, curious New Yorkers will no longer need to sift through dozens of complicated permits to find out what’s transpiring at local construction sites. They’d only need to eye one sign.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the buildings department has launched a pilot program that encourages developers to put a single comprehensive sign on the plywood surrounding construction sites that details all the permits and includes a rendering of the project. [more]

A federal court dismissed a lawsuit this week that sought to undermine the New York City Department of Buildings’ power to regulate the crane industry, Crain’s reported.

The Steel Institute of New York sued the city agency and argued that the city’s crane laws should be governed by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which has its own set of rules for crane construction. While the DOB’s laws do not conflict with federal regulations, they do have added safety measures that were a response to the two construction accidents involving cranes in 2008. [more]

From left: Department of Design and Construction Commissioner David Burney, Department of Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri and the single-occupancy housing style

Antiquated laws for housing types in the city are restricting development of the type of residencies needed most in the city, according to the Citizens Housing and Planning Council. The New York Times reported that last week, the council hosted an exposition where architects presented ideas for new types of housing for lower-income New Yorkers. Developers and city officials were on hand and critiqued the proposals. Many of the designs were based on the concept of single-room-occupancy hotel.

The current problem, according to the new housing advocates, is that even though most homes are designed with families in mind, just 17 percent of city housing units are occupied by parents raising children under the age of 25. [more]

Department of Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri has ordered all construction in
the city suspended for the weekend in advance of the projected landfall of
Hurricane Irene, NBC New York reported. All construction sites are to
shut down between 2 p.m. on Saturday to 7 a.m. on Monday. LiMandri said today that inspectors from DOB are checking
construction sites throughout the city to ensure that equipment is
secured and any loose materials are removed or tied down. That
includes cranes, scaffolding, hoists and anything else that could
come loose in heavy wind and rain. He said that inspectors will
continue their work throughout the weekend to make certain that
builders, developers and contractors are complying with the rules.
According to Jim Rosenbluth of Cushman and Wakefield, basements and lower levels of buildings close to the shore could be endangered by the hurricane.
[NBC] 
[more]

Though still below 2008 levels, new construction permits in New York City are on the rise, an indication that developments may be back on track, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Permits for new buildings, alterations and demolition rose by approximately 12 percent during the first half of 2011 compared with the same period last year, according to new data from the Department of Buildings. Demolitions — normally a firm indicator of brand new projects — jumped by 14 percent.
“More construction permits mean more people are going to work,” Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri said.

Private developers are still experiencing difficulty when it comes to financing big projects, said Richard Anderson, president of the New York Building Congress, as lenders tighten their restrictions. [more]

Though he was cleared of manslaughter charges last year, William Rapetti received a punishment for his part in the crane collapse in Midtown in 2008 that killed seven people. A judge today found that the rigger’s sloppy crane work was to blame for the collapse, and recommended his license be revoked, the New York Post reported. Department of Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri has adhered to that recommendation, making Rapetti unable to operate or oversee any cranes in the city.

“We have determined that Mr. Rapetti took shortcuts while erecting the tower crane by using damaged equipment and failing to follow the manufacturer’s specific instructions,” LiMandri said. “Those shortcuts sacrificed the safety of the job site and led to horrific consequences.” [more]

From left: Architect Robert Scarano and DOB Commissioner
Robert LiMandri

[Updated at 5.30 p.m. with a statement from Robert Scarano] A state appeals court today has rejected architect Robert Scarano’s appeal of a decision forbidding him from filing any building documents, including permit applications and construction plans, with the Department of Buildings.

“New Yorkers depend on licensed professionals to follow the law and ensure the quality of life of our neighborhoods is protected. Mr. Scarano betrayed that trust, and this decision sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for filing false documents in New York City,” DOB Commissioner Robert LiMandri said in a statement. Sacarano said in a statement: “We are extremely disappointed in today’s ruling and we are going to examine all legal options available to us. Despite this decision, we plan to continue working hard to serve our clients and to maintain the high quality of architecture for which our firm is known.”

[more]

A new online construction schedule variances system is expected to save private companies roughly $6 million per year, according to the New York City Department of Buildings, which unveiled the program today. The new system will allow construction companies to renew after-hours variance permits online, rather than in person, saving nearly $200 per filing. DOB, which fielded more than 30,000 application renewal requests last year, said that the online program could also streamline work for government employees. “This online program will become one of the most important tools for any contractor in the city,” said Robert LiMandri, DOB’s commissioner. TRD [more]

Department of Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri will launch Junior Architects and Engineers, a new program to introduce elementary school students to the design and construction process in New York City. Under the program, DOB officials will visit five schools across the city to teach about the steps required to construct a building and the role DOB plays in facilitating safe development. The kickoff event will take place tomorrow at P.S. 31, the William T. Davis School, at 55 Layton Avenue in Staten Island, where more than 30 fifth graders will be in attendance. TRD [more]

The city’s Department of Buildings handed out fliers Wednesday in Brooklyn detailing the dangers of illegally converted apartments, following the death of an East New York tenant, who was unable to escape his illegal cellar unit during a fire (see flier after the jump).

The DOB, which is also raising awareness of the issue on Twitter, included a list of common traits among illegal apartments in its pamphlet, including padlocks on bedroom doors and electricity supplied by extension cords. Also of concern are cellar apartments and attic units, which often don’t provide enough exits. [more]