Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Post

New York City is taking a major step to improve its streets and public spaces by addressing the long-standing issue of construction sheds and scaffolding. Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Department of Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo have introduced the "Get Sheds Down" initiative. This comprehensive plan aims to remove unsightly construction sheds and scaffolding from city streets more efficiently while also reimagining and redesigning those that are necessary for safety. The "Get Sheds Down" plan seeks to incentivize property owners to expedite necessary façade repairs and remove sheds with expired permits promptly. Additionally, the initiative aims to make traditional sheds more visually appealing when required and replace them with less intrusive alternatives when possible. The plan comprises nine concrete strategies to enhance public safety and improve public spaces while safeguarding New Yorkers from the hazards associated with active construction and neglected buildings. To minimize the financial burden on smaller property owners, the Adams administration plans to expand financial penalties and regulatory oversight associated with sheds primarily in designated business districts within Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. This approach is intended to encourage more substantial property owners to complete façade work promptly, reactivate sidewalks, and contribute to the city's economic recovery.

For all building owners within the jurisdiction of New York City, it's time to prioritize the safety and longevity of our city's buildings. Starting January 1, 2024, all buildings with parapets facing the public right-of-way must undergo annual inspections. Learn more by reading our informative article, or contact us directly if you have any additional questions. #StructuralWorkshop #NYCBuildingSafety #MandatoryParapetInspections #ParapetInspections #BuildingMaintenance #StructuralIntegrity #SafetyFirst #BuildingSafety #MaintenanceMatters #ComplianceMandate #BuildingSafetyStandards #BuildingInspections #SafetyCompliance #PreventativeMaintenance

The changes affects plan requirements for window, door, and garage door replacements; make changes to the sections governing private providers; impose new deadlines for permit application approvals and penalties for failing to meet them; and new standards for certain unvented spaces. #floridacontractors #constructionlaw #floridaconstruction #buildingcodes https://lnkd.in/e_2vffxy

Structural collapse in NYC buildings is up ⬆️ Scrutiny from insurers is on the rise 📈 How many of us know of property in New York where work wasn’t by the book? In the world of interior renovation, oversights can happen leading up to construction or well after… It could be a missing sign-off. Corner cutting to save time. Potential for liability is higher than ever. Every misstep raises risk for buildings and people in them, and it’s ultimately on the property to know what’s happening under their roof. Learn how to track alterations and protect property with iNBuilt Solution. #NYCPropertyManagement #Renovations #SaferConstruction #AlterationManagement https://lnkd.in/gSGRmy9h

I returned to Naples FL and observe that, as buildings undergo inspections mandated by new FL laws, we are discovering that many buildings were poorly maintained by property managers, supervised by Boards or developers that did not understand that many little details matter. One issue, which my wife and I experienced in our 1st home in CT in 1980, was the failure of the prior owner to keep "weep holes" open. I did not know what a "weep hole" was, but learned that it is a drainage hole that protects against water intrusion in a building envelope. In our home, a sealed "weep hole" caused water to gush into the living room from an upper floor window sill during a storm. In our building, water seeped into the wall of our garage, most likely from an opening between a metal fence post and the surface that is both the floor of a deck and the roof of the garage. Prior managers probably did not pay attention to this issue and the intrusion occurred over a long period of time. What I have found is that "handymen" did the least expensive patching, as opposed to doing the job right. We ran into this recently as we were getting our home repainted. The original builder had painters who did not properly prime or treat the wood before beginning to paint. Subsequent painters did not correct this problem. This is endemic to much of America right now. We do not promote the value of good tradespeople and get people doing the job who are under skilled and, often, poorly supervised. Our physical infrastructure in both residences, commercial buildings, and industrial properties is often in great need of rework.

So, do NYC Building Department requirements for facade inspections cover this or is this type of structure excluded from the requirements? What about your municipality? Or are these simply left to the discretion of the owners? https://lnkd.in/ejmfG9wJ #facade #inspection #maintenance #building #historicbuildings #historicpreservation #forensicengineering

This is the extent of detail I go into when conducting my development appraisals, well before engaging professional teams. Currently, I am developing and evaluating proposals for a site in Surrey. As part of this, I am performing a swept path analysis to determine if I can fit adequate parking within the development layout for a block of eight 1-bedroom flats, with plans to provide four parking spaces at the front and four at the rear. Parking is just one of the many aspects I meticulously consider early in the development appraisal process. The amount of parking required, the layout, access, and safety can significantly impact the project's numbers and overall viability. #propertydevelopment #surrey #sempreproperty #Planning #parking #sweptpathanalysis

ADDITION PROBLEMS — One of the most prevalent zoning violations we frequently encounter pertains to unpermitted additions made to single-family or multi-family homes. Often, these additions are constructed directly on top of existing walls. Most existing buildings in Chicago, don’t meet minimum setback requirements. Chicago Zoning Code mandates side setback requirements in R zoned lots for building additions, failure to meet these requirements can lead to complications in the future, potentially necessitating a lengthy zoning relief process (at least 3-8 months) if Zoning denies your addition due to side setbacks not meeting minimum requirements. After your architects submits plans, you’ll be given a denial letter and expected to resolve the necessary relief with a Zoning Attorney. If you're contemplating the purchase of a property in Chicago that includes an unpermitted addition (dormer or 2nd floor, or rear addition), you're likely to encounter zoning code issues due to non-compliance with setback regulations that contractors are unaware of. Additionally, you may face building code problems because it's probable that the contractor didn't use the necessary fire-rated materials for the side elevations. This underscores the importance of collaborating with an experienced architect when assessing your renovation objectives to ensure they align with your budget, as you might need to make more extensive alterations than initially anticipated. #designingchicago #architecture by #chicagoarchitect #BLDGPROJ

This article touches on an often overlooked aspect of affordable housing - building codes. Building codes are about more than just safety for occupants; building codes are a fixed cost that reflects the community's subjective balance between the safety of occupants, construction costs, public services (e.g. fire departments), and the safety of the community at-large. Building codes are a good thing generally, I am a fan, but we can’t ignore the implicit costs they impose on others, especially those that do not have a place to live as an indirect result.