Our Greenpoint correspondent sent along the photo of 996 Manhattan Avenue, because she was taken by the steel bracing that extends from said building to the sidewalk in front. She writes:
I found this modern-day example of a buttress next door to Pio Pio Riko. As you can tell, it takes up almost the entire sidewalk. I can tell you from personal experience that I have almost tripped over this thing. I am certain one of the local winos already has; this is a very poor design for a ‘nabe that has staggering drunks at any given hour. Anyhoo, if you look hard enough you will notice that the façade of the building is buckling. Nice, eh?
Buckling? Indeed it is. So badly, in fact, that it has drawn its share of attention from the Department of Buildings over the years. For instance:
BLDG HAS SHIFTED TOWARDS SOUTH APPROX 4″ PAST VERTICAL PLACEMENT W/ SEPARATION AT NORTH FACADE & EXPOSED FRAMING. REMEDY:MAINTAIN BLDG& PROVIDE ENGINEERS STABILITY REPORT.
This is not to be confused with the 2004 violation that says:
(1)BLDG IS PULLING AWAY FROM ADJACENT STRUCURE (1000 MANH AVE) AT TOP OF PARAPIT 6″(2) BLDG WALL AT 1ST FLOOR IS PULLING TOWARDS STREET,REMEDY:MAINTAIN BLDG AS PER CODE.
Did they say “parapet“?
This is not to be confused with the 2005 violation for “A VERTICAL SEPERATION FROM APPROX. 2″ WIDE AT GRADE TO APPROX. 5″ WIDE AT PARAPET…”
One is tempted to crack a joke about how the more things change, the more they stay the same, but we’ll settle for noting that both violations resulted in fines of $10,000 each. (No indication that either was paid.) We’re assuming that the thing in the street is part of the “remedy” that will keep the building from Going Ward Bakery on passersby (AKA Going Ratner).
In any case, 996 Manhattan is a virtual cornucopia of building code violations. Specifically, 24 violations and 27 complaints, dating back to the time when one could still go to Berlin and tag up the Berlin Wall. Which doesn’t make it particularly unusual in Brooklyn or in New York City, but still fascinating in its own way.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Anonymous // May 4, 2007 at 8:15 am
Local winos? What a surprise. Another cheap shot at Greenpoint disguised as a blog. This is becoming very transparent. There are clearly winos and prostitutes in Williamsburg that you could talk about. Nice try.
2 Anonymous // May 4, 2007 at 10:12 am
Hey Anon, but it’s true. I live in and love Greenpoint and I’m Polish, but the sheer amount of drunks you find there at all times of the day is absolutely depressing. I always wonder, do these men have jobs? Or is it their wives that are working in the bakeries and travel agencies that are supporting their disgusting habit. Very very sad.
3 jukeboxgraduate // May 4, 2007 at 3:45 pm
wow. we saw this yesterday, while going to pio pio riko, and noted that it said “DOB violation” all over it.
and yes. greenpoint has far more visible winos than williamsburg does. there was a big article in the times last year about the ‘hidden’ drinking problem in our neighborhood, mostly immigrants who found it hard going in the u.s. and turned to alcohol. they may or may not have family around, but they are drawn to greenpoint because there is some social service support at one or two of the churches, and because of the polish community. they’re harmless, but they are around, and they are visible, especially on the corner of manhattan and greenpoint, and further down towards the greenpoint hotel, which is the #1 worst SRO hotel in the entire five boroughs.
4 Anonymous // May 5, 2007 at 6:41 am
Wow, the racist Williamsburg bloggers are out in force.