The Department is launching its ninth annual No-Penalty Retaining Wall Inspection Program. As part of the program, homeowners can request free inspections of their retaining walls. Any related penalties will be deferred to allow for necessary repair work. Inspections can be requested - starting today - by calling 311 and making an appointment. The program will run until May 31, 2013. Click here for more information: http://on.nyc.gov/17o79Ln
We have launched a new program to help accelerate the reconstruction process following Hurricane Sandy. Under this program, the Department’s senior officials will provide free design consultations to assist homeowners with their decisions on reconstruction and ensure new flood recommendations and standards are incorporated into the projects. Click here to learn more.
We have expanded the NYC Development Hub, the City’s state-of-the-art plan review center in Lower Manhattan, to make it easier for New Yorkers to do business with the Department. under this new program, Hub Self-Service, permits for thousands of small construction projects across NYC can now be obtained online, saving industry members time and money. through our website, applicants can create online accounts, complete the necessary electronic forms and upload the proper documents in order to receive approvals and obtain construction permits, all without having to leave their offices. also as part of the expansion, all electronic filings at the Department will now be coordinated through the Hub. Click here to learn more: http://on.nyc.gov/R36dFL
the national weather service is forecasting high winds up to 30mph with gusts up to 50mph today through tomorrow am. in preparation for the windy weather, we’re reminding all builders and property owners to secure their sites and buildings.
the Department’s 1,000+ employees work hard to ensure New Yorkers are safe during construction operations. but many people may not realize what kind of work that entails. recently, the New York Times highlighted one of our best when it detailed the efforts of Timothy Lynch, the Executive Director of our Forensic Engineering Unit, who carefully retrieved belongings for the tenants of a partially collapsed building at 241 Carroll Street in Brooklyn while overseeing the demolition of the unstable structure. click here to read the story
on july 2, Commissioner LiMandri appointed Timothy Hogan as the Department’s new Deputy Commissioner of Enforcement to oversee all of the agency’s emergency and safety operations, complaint inspections and construction accident investigations. With more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, Hogan previously served as the Chief Deputy United States Marshal for the Eastern District of New York where he led complex criminal investigations, helped apprehend fugitives around the world and protected federal court judges and court witnesses. click here to learn more
— Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri on the April 3 crane accident
click here to check out the latest installment of our Buildings at Work video series on the NYC Development Hub, it gives you an inside look into the interworking of the center.
Crain’s New York Business is reporting that according to the Department of Buildings permits issued citywide increased in the first two months of 2012, with new building permits up 42% and demolition permits up 37%. click on the link above to read more.
mark your calendars! this year our annual Construction Safety Week will be the week of April 23, 2012. to kick the week off, we will be holding the 2012 Build Safe/Live Safe Conference at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square on April 23 from 8am to 4pm. at the conference Department experts will discuss new safety measures, review recent industry trends and outline a vision for the future of construction in New York City. Seats are limited for the conference, so click here to register and learn more today!
Department of Buildings and Department of Investigation have released the findings of their joint investigation into the fatal elevator accident at 285 Madison Avenue on December 14, 2011. Click here to read more.
The Department of Buildings has installed CAPTCHA on our website to protect our information systems against unauthorized software programs that automatically extract data and compromise the delivery of information to millions of users each day. Thank you for your understanding.
construction-related accidents declined for the second straight year citywide in 2011, falling by 18% from 2010 while permits rose by 7.7%. since Commissioner LiMandri took office in 2008, we’ve increased our oversight, enhanced our enforcement tools, enacted a series of new safety laws and conducted numerous educational outreach programs to remind workers about the importance of being safe - including our new safety campaign “Experience is Not Enough.” and the numbers show that our hard work and the industry’s dedication is paying off.
it can be frustrating to walk through the City and not be able to understand what is being built at various construction sites. to solve this problem we’ve launched a new pilot program that consolidates construction site permit signage into one simple panel with renderings of the future building at the site. the new information panel not only improves the overall appearance of construction sites but also makes it easier for New Yorkers to learn about what is being constructed in their neighborhoods. developers who want to participate should visit our website at www.nyc.gov/buildings.
