my lovely neighbors building a new house.

PM me asap with all the info.

Let's just say I have my ways of finding out the skinny and the solution(s)

Yes...;)

Trial by fire...feet first into the void.

Now it's a combination of comfortability, continuing to learn the code/bureaucracy and my daily outrage at what goes on in our boro, the City for that matter with new development.

Shameful. I can only think of enough "good" sites to barely count on one hand

that doesn't look good...

armchair, you need to secure an attorney TODAY. lostingreenwoodhts can tell you who to speak with.

Hey Armchair,

This is all serious business and there are, no doubt, a lot of "cowboys" out there doing illegal and unsafe work. good for you for looking out for your prop.

FYI:

1. Many adjacent buildings and lots encroach on to adjacent properties in New York. As a rule of thumb, when we create architectural plans for a building that is right next to another ( like row houses, etc.) to allow for an additional 6"-8" of inward "play" ( we make our building thinner by 6"-8" on each side from the property lines) because in may cased of 100 year old structures in NYC, properties encroach and it is good to be prepared for it. Properties also move over time...seriously. Do you know for a fact ( with a civil survey) that it is not YOUR property that is encroaching on your neighbors and not the other way around?

2. An exposed foundation, especially the one that you have, is not necessarily a sign of imminent danger. That is a 100 y.o. THICK stone foundation that is more solid than any new home has today. When doing new construction next to you, the owner has a right, within reason, to utilize all of their property for building and even come on to your property for the purposes of stabilizing his new structure (within reason is the key -and asking is always a plus of course).

However, when doing foundation work near old structures like that, the contractor should be taking all of the necessary precautions to stabilize adjacent properties. You have a right to ask for the engineering calculations for the soil removal, to see the APPROVED DOB drawings (with professional stamp and perforation from DOB). Shoring and underpinning may even be required for adjacent properties and their should be drawings and even a separate permit for the engineering, excavation work...Are they driving or drilling piles?

3. Anyone can DOB get a Stop Work Order for any reason and be back up an running the next day when the inspector comes by and says everything is okay. The DOB inspectors are idiots and they are short staffed. Protect yourself and keep documenting - especially if there is ANY movement during construction. Some inconsequential movement may happen - it usually does (cm's) but let us know if you can no longer open doors in your house...:)

Ask for the drawings and a copy of their survey showing property lines and structures....

brooklynpotter wrote: sevenoneeighty, i have to say that given what i've seen going on in south slope, esp on 15th street, and 16th street, if this happened at my property i'd get a lawyer within minutes.

in the situations i've mentioned--and greenwood, please correct me if i am wrong--311 and the DOB have been called again and again and work continued, complaints weren't taken, situations were ignored. down in this nabe, residents are ready to see red flags in a millisecond because they've already had their property destroyed while going through the correct channels that are supposed to protect them.

not to be snarky, honest, but do you work for the DOB?

No, I'm an architect and I deal with this sort of thing from time to time.
But I am encouraging Armchair to look out for himself and just giving him some information that might be helpful. He should definitely be cautious and look out for his property - did you get some other impression from my post...?

But people should also know that construction is not always straight forward and especially when you are dealing with new buildings being built immediately adjacent to old structures in New York and with very greedy, careless contractors that do not want to follow procedure. I mentioned the "cowboy" contractor angle because it is possible that the work going on next to him is completely out of line and dangerous.

However, on some jobs I've had "concerned" neighbors call 311 and DOB for any and everything because they didn't like the new building going up in their neighborhood ( I'm NOT saying armchair is doing this at all) and the DOB starts to ignore thee complaints as gossip after a few calls and repeated visits for minor or no issues. If you have the specific information and know what to ask for (engineering calculations, civil survey, perforated drawings) your case will get more immediate attention and let the contractor know you know what to ask for at the right time.

For example, during the Meier building foundation construction, ppl were complaining daily about the sidewalk being torn up - but this is typical and the contractor/owner had a right to do it ( providing the permits were valid) and it is done in order to make the foundation at the owner's property line - which is within his right to do so...While it looked bad, it is part of construction and proper precautions and protections must be provided (fences, sheds, alternate route and signage), but it IS legal.

Another example: With permission from the NYC Parks Department you CAN cut down a large tree (and replace it with others) but neighbors still call DOB and Parks to complain when they see it happening....