A Fresh Round Of Stop Work Orders For The Façade Without a House At 350 DeGraw Street

The original building at 350 DeGraw Street. (image credit: Google.com)

A look at the construction site behind the façade as it looks today.

photo courtesy of "Smith Street Resident"

Many in the neighborhood may have been wondering about the strange façade without a house at 350 DeGraw Street between Court and Smith Street.  Back in April of this year, I posted about the violations and stop work order that lead to the limbo at this construction site.
Back then, it seemed as though the owner had taken steps to rectify some of the violations, but as of two days ago, the NYC Department of Buildings issued more violations and a total of four stop work orders. 

It all started in May 2013, when D.o.B. issued permits for alterations to the existing three story brick building to a four story building.   However, instead of enlarging the existing structure, the entire building was demolished.
Though the DoB received several 311 calls in regards to the illegal demolition, the agency did not act until the structure had been entirely dismantled and the new façade was going up.

By October 2013, the Department issued a 'notice to revoke' the permit and several violations were noted, including one violation for demolition work that did not conform to original plans.
In addition, a complete stop-work-order was imposed because the percentage of existing walls remaining was less than what had been indicated on the approved plans. In addition, the existing foundation wall had been undermined and had become unstable.

That Stop Work Order was partially rescinded by DoB to allow installation of a waterproofing membrane on the adjoining building and to backfill the excavated foundation.

The owner of 350 DeGraw Street subsequently filed for the legalization of the demolition and for the proper permits for a new 4,998 s.f. four story residential apartment building. The plans were approved on March 31st, 2014.

However, trouble continues at the site. In the past two days, more stop work orders and violations were issued for "work without permit" as well as "missing sections of construction fence, no protection of adjacent rear yards, as well as insufficient bracing and shoring."

Take a look at the photo of the construction site behind the façade that was taken today by a resident of Smith Street, who kindly allowed me to post it on PMFA. It clearly shows that the back yard of the home next door has been compromised. One has to feel sorry for the owners, who just recently completed a lovely renovation.

At this rate, it will be a long time before the façade at 350 DeGraw Street is once more connected to an actual building.