Robert LiMandri

The Department of Buildings has issued 34 full and 75 partial stop work orders as part of a citywide safety inspection of 920 low-rise construction sites, the agency said. The orders covered 12 percent of the 920 sites inspected as part of “Operation: Low Rise.”

The two-month investigation, concluded today, netted more than $954,000 in penalties from violations, the department said. The mostly minimal violations included missing fences, missing guardrails, missing fire extinguishers and work without proper permits, the news release said. [more]

From left: DOB Commissioner Robert LiMandri and an aerial shot of Hurricane Sandy

The City of New York is prepping for a 27-inch water level rise by 2050, according to Department of Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri. As a result, buildings will need to plan for entrances to commercial buildings that sit at least that high — a significant adjustment, experts agreed. [more]

Robert LiMandri

In its latest effort to increase transparency and efficiency in the construction process, the Department of Buildings today announced the debut of a smartphone app, which will allow users to search DOB databases for the histories of 975,000 city buildings. The app, which comes free of charge, operates on iPhone and Android platforms.

The app includes information on active construction projects, violations, complaints and other details on properties listed in the Buildings Information System, the DOB’s online database. “Push” notifications provide the latest news on service updates, regulations and weather alerts. [more]

Mayor Bloomberg

Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed an emergency order today to waive Department of Buildings application and permit fees for Hurricane Sandy-induced repair work, according to a statement the Mayor’s office issued today. New York City buildings that sustained significant damage from the storm and are in need of demolition, alteration or reconstruction work will have all repair fees waived until further notice, as well as fees for electrical and plumbing repair.

“It will ensure that New Yorkers fixing their homes will not have to incur additional expenses,” Mayor Bloomberg said in the release, “and we are going to do everything we can to help those displaced by Hurricane Sandy rebuild and recover as quickly as possible.” [more]

From left: Gary Barnett, a rendering of One57 and the secured crane at One57

The saga of  One57′s disabled crane is coming to a close. The crane has been successfully secured and the surrounding buildings reopened. Workers spent the weekend using a a hand crank to rotate the cab and crane platform closer to the building. Once it was close enough, construction workers used steel cables and beams to tie the 150-foot boom to the building’s concrete columns. It may take days, or even weeks, for the giant boom to be lowered to the ground. [more]

DOB Commissioner Robert LiMandri

Since the NYC Development Hub — the Department of Buildings’ digital plan review system — was launched a year ago, some 339 new buildings and major alterations have received Hub approval, Crain’s reported. The projects already approved by the Hub will generate an estimated $1.3 billion in economic activity for New York City.

And today, the city announced that the Hub system can also be used to file for small renovation projects, for which approval could come as soon as 24 hours. [more]

150 Charles Street in June

A group of West Village residents has gone to court to block the construction of 150 Charles Street, the Witkoff Group’s 98-unit condominium conversion of the former Whitehall Storage building. The 11 plaintiffs, who all live near the site, are claiming that the developer has run afoul of zoning rules.

The residents say that Witkoff won special permission to enlarge the existing structure because the project is a conversion, rather than ground-up construction. But now, the developer has demolished the warehouse, waiving its right to the extra floor area, the residents allege in a complaint filed Thursday in New York State Supreme Court. [more]

From left: DOB Commissioner Robert LiMandri and a home's deck

Starting today New Yorkers lucky enough to have their own outdoor space can request a free inspection of their decks and porches without penalty by calling 311. The Department of Buildings program runs through August 1, a city release says. This marks the third year that the DOB is offering its No-Penalty Deck and Porch Inspection Program.

This campaign allows for residents with decks or porches to get inspections to see if repairs are needed. If work has to be done, the DOB will defer an issue of violations to allow residents some time to correct the problems. [more]

DA Charles Hynes and 2033 86th Street

Two Bensonhurst, Brooklyn landlords were indicted today in the deaths of five tenants at an apartment building the pair had allegedly illegally subdivided, said a statement from Kings County District Attorney Charles Hynes today.

Vasilios Gerazounis, 68, and his son, Argyrios Gerazounis, 37, joint owners of 2033 86th Street, were indicted on numerous charges of manslaughter, reckless endangerment and one count of assault stemming from a December 2010 fire that killed five tenants. The fire was caused by arson. [more]

From left: DOB Commissioner Robert LiMandri and state Senator Tony Avella

A state senator in Queens is calling for New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri to step down, citing LiMandri’s alleged failure to thwart a notorious developer whose projects have been cited for numerous violations, the New York Daily News reported. Developer Tommy Huang, whose project in Elmhurst, Queens, was the site of a fatal construction accident last year, has not been adequately reprimanded by the city, according to state Senator Tony Avella, who represents Queens’ Bayside area. [more]