For Immediate Release: December 21, 2021
Contact: dobcommunications@buildings.nyc.gov, (212) 393-2126

DOB ISSUES MONTHLY ENFORCEMENT BULLETIN

Report Highlights DOB Enforcement Outcomes from August, September, and October 2021 to Deter Bad Actors and Keep New Yorkers Safe

New York, NY – Today, the New York City Department of Buildings released its enforcement bulletin for August, September and October2021, which provides highlights of the agency’s actions to sanction and deter bad actors in the construction industry through the enforcement of safety laws and codes of conduct for construction professionals. Today’s bulletin includes summaries of DOB-imposed disciplinary actions, including penalties and license suspensions and revocations.

The actions below represent a portion of DOB’s overall work to enforce the City’s building codes and safety laws, in addition to the thousands of inspections conducted and violations issued by the agency each month for illegal building and construction conditions.

DOB took a number of major enforcement actions in August, September and October, including:

• 92 violations and $1,085,000 in penalties issued for failure to safeguard construction sites on 87 separate occasions.
• 90 violations and $2,073,300 in penalties, including daily penalties, issued for illegal building alterations at 16 locations.
• 23 violations and $223,043 in penalties, including daily penalties, issued for illegal transient use at 9 locations.
• 39 violations and $405,000 in penalties issued to 39 different individuals for failure to carry out duties of construction superintendents.

Below are individual enforcement highlights for August, September and October 2021:

Brooklyn

• $243,000 in total penalties issued to Wei Fang Ni for illegal alterations of a legal 2-family house located at 651 60th Street, Brooklyn. DOB inspectors found nine illegally constructed Single Resident Occupancy (SRO) units with key locking devices on separately numbered doors.

• $105,000 in total penalties issued to 2188 Tang Realty Corp. for altering a legal 2-family home located at 1364 65th Street, Brooklyn into a five Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units without a permit. DOB inspectors found that each SRO unit had a key-operated lock, key, and separate tenants each paying $550 a month to occupy the units.

• $22,500 in total penalties issued to General Contractor Busko Realty Corp. for failure to safeguard at a construction site at 312 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn. DOB inspectors found that overhead protections were not in place for pedestrians nor the adjacent building. Additionally, no guardrails were installed around the staircases and holes at the site, no barricades were in place for heavy equipment stored adjacent to the walkway, and no records indicating that safety orientations or pre-shift meetings for the workers were being held.

• $13,125 in total penalties issued to General Contractor Dynamic Development And C for failure to properly maintain a scaffold at a construction site at 2811 Farragut Road, Brooklyn. DOB inspectors found that that the vertical netting on the scaffold was loose, egress routes at the site were blocked, and the Tenant Protection Plan for the construction site was not posted at the location as required.

• $11,250 in total penalties issued to General Contractor Custombuilt Homes Inc. for inadequate site safety plans for a construction site 898 Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn. DOB inspectors found that there was no log records of required toolbox talks, pre-shift meetings or daily logs. In addition, a stairwell at the site was missing protection measures, tripping hazards were found on the floor of the site, and no protection measures implemented for an adjacent property.

• $11,400 in total penalties issued to 475 Wash Owner LLC, owner of 475 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, after DOB inspectors found that electrical work at the property had been performed without a permit, HVAC systems were installed without proper grounding at the rear of the property, and improper electrical equipment was found in the public hallways, the laundry room and meter room.

• $10,000 in penalties issued to Safety Registrant Ninth Ave Construction Corp. for failure to institute safety measures at a construction site located at 29 West Street, Brooklyn. DOB inspectors were called to the scene after a construction worker on scene lost a finger. It was determined that the worker was using a rotary hammer without a required side handle, and the worker lost control of the equipment resulting in injury.

• $10,000 in penalties issued to Safety Registrant Racanelli Construction Co. for failure to provide a required sidewalk shed in front of a construction site at 72 Caton Place, Brooklyn.

• $10,000 in penalties issued to Lefferts Garden LLC, the owners of 78 Lefferts Avenue, Brooklyn, for failure to provide adequate safety measures in the rear of the building where the chimney was cracked and missing bricks.

• $10,000 in penalties issued to Safety Registrant NT First Decoration Inc. for failure to safeguard a construction site 576 6th Avenue, Brooklyn. DOB inspectors found that construction activity at the location had caused a quarter inch wide crack in the adjacent building, resulting in dust and debris to enter an apartment.

• $9,375 in total penalties issued to Res Royal Realty LLC for failure to maintain a building at 1984 East 8th Street, Brooklyn. DOB inspectors found that the ceiling in a second-floor apartment had collapsed. An additional violation was issued to the property owner for their failure to comply with Department’s orders to correct a previously issued violation.

• $7,500 in total penalties issued to Brian Bramel, P.E., after a peer review of the Professional Engineer’s design drawings related to a construction site at 948 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, found design deficiencies. Following the peer review, it was determined that the Professional Engineer’s drawings for steel columns, beams, two floor slabs, and lateral design at the site were all deficient.

• $6,250 in penalties issued to Throop Owner LLC, owner of 619 Throop Avenue, Brooklyn, for failure to maintain the building, after a 20 foot by 15 foot piece of masonry façade fell to the ground.

• $6,250 in penalties issued to Northeastern Conference C for tampering with a Stop Work Order notice at 92 Utica Avenue, Brooklyn, after a DOB inspection determined that a Stop Work Notice had been improperly removed from the location.

• The owners of 118 Battery Avenue, Brooklyn, were cited for using the premises illegally as a post office, drug store and a packing and crating establishment. Prior to a hearing scheduled with OATH, the owner and occupant of the premises entered into a stipulation giving them until August 17, 2021, to discontinue the illegal use. A stipulation compliance inspection revealed that the business had relocated and was no longer occupying the subject premises. DOB will continue to monitor the location for compliance.

• The owners of 3115 Brighton 6 Street, Brooklyn, were cited for illegally using the cellar of the premises as a florist shop. Prior to a hearing scheduled with OATH, proof that the illegal use of the cellar has been discontinued was submitted to the Department. DOB will continue to monitor for compliance.

• The owners of 2795 Cropsey Avenue, Brooklyn, were cited for illegally using the premises for a contractor’s yard and buildings material storage. Prior to a hearing scheduled with OATH, the owners entered into a stipulation agreement with the Department for the discontinuation of the illegal use. A compliance inspection revealed that the lot was still being used for commercial and manufacturing purposes, and as a result the Department posted an Order of Closure at the premises. A subsequent compliance inspection revealed that the illegal use was discontinued as required. DOB will continue to monitor for compliance.

• The owners of 2760 Harway Avenue were cited for illegally using the premises as storage for an adjacent hardware store. Prior to a hearing scheduled with OATH, the owners entered into a stipulation agreement with DOB for the discontinuation of the illegal use. A subsequent inspection revealed that the lot was still being used for commercial and manufacturing purposes, and as a result an Order of Closure was posted at the premises. However, a recent inspection revealed that the illegal use was discontinued as required. DOB will continue to monitor for compliance.

• The owners of 2901 Avenue U, Brooklyn, were cited for illegally utilizing the premises as a contractor’s yard. Recent inspections of the property found that the property owners were not in compliance with the a previous stipulation they entered into to discontinue the illegal use. As a result DOB has issued an Order of Closure and posted it at the premises. If the property owners do not discontinue the illegal use, the location will be padlocked.

• The owners of 33 Crosby Avenue, Brooklyn, were cited for illegally utilizing the premises as a junk and dead vehicle storage. Prior to a hearing scheduled with OATH, the owners entered into a stipulation to discontinue the illegal use. A subsequent inspection revealed that the use was not discontinued, so an Order of Closure was issued. While the commercial vehicles were removed, dead storage was occurring on the lot, so the Order of Closure was posted. If the illegal use is not discontinued, the premises will be padlocked.

Bronx

• $70,125 in total penalties issued to Gold University Ave. Corp. for the illegal alteration of 1360 University Avenue, Bronx. DOB inspectors found that multiple Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units had been created in apartment 22 of the building for the purposes of renting them out on Airbnb. The SROs were illegally created without a permit, did not contain a sprinkler system or fire alarms, and had inadequate egress.

• $64,000 in total penalties issued to 1163 Holding Ltd., owner of 1163 Stratford Avenue, Bronx, for illegally adding four Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units in the basement of a 5-story apartment building without work permits and with sufficient firestopping material in the basement.

• $30,000 in total penalties issued to 58-66 East Fordham Road LLC and Lamar Advertising of Penn LLC for illegally displaying an advertising sign at 58 East Fordham Road, Bronx without a permit and without the required sign decal.

• $25,000 in penalties issued to Bronx Park Housing, the owner of 2344 Boston Post Road, Bronx, for failure to provide pedestrian protection measures around the building’s unsafe façade. The building’s balconies were found to be defective, unsecured, and had defective concrete slabs, and a DOB inspection found that the property owners had not taken any measures to protect the public from this hazards condition.

• $25,000 in penalties issued to 3950 Blackstone Assoc. for failure to take adequate measures to protect the public from a documented unsafe façade condition at a building located at 3950 Blackstone Avenue, Bronx.

• $17,500 in total penalties issued to Safety Registrant Centauri Development Inc. for failure to have a Construction Superintendent on site during construction operations, missing handrails, unprotected fall hazards, and missing guardrails at demolition work site at 203 East Fordham Road, Bronx.

• $12,500 in total penalties issued to Safety Registrant All Star 1 LLC for failure to produce the required orientation logs and pre-shift logs with mention of safety proceedings during a DOB inspection of an active demolition site located at 234 East 203rd Street. DOB inspectors found that All Star 1 LLC also failed to maintain proper housekeeping at the demolition site, did not have temporary lighting on site as required, and did not have fire extinguishers.

• $12,500 in penalties issued to Tracking Number Holder Euro Castle Construction for failing to institute safety measures at a construction site at 890 Caldwell Avenue, Bronx, after two workers fell at the site. DOB inspectors found that workers were on a supported scaffold, replacing bricks at the 3rd story parapet when a plank slipped, causing the two workers to fall 20 feet onto the sidewalk shed below.

• $12,500 in total penalties issued to M 18 East 199 Street, the property owners of 18 East 199th Street, Bronx, for failure to maintain the building walls and appurtenances. DOB inspectors found deteriorating lintels and window sills during their inspection, as well as cracks from the ground to the roof of the six story building.

• $10,000 in penalties issued to General Contractor Alef Construction Inc. failure to safeguard a construction site at 181 Webster Avenue, Bronx. DOB inspectors found that the construction site door was left opened, making it possible for unauthorized entry.

• $10,000 in penalties issued to Global Management LLC for failure to safeguard a construction site at 1285 Edward L. Grant Highway, Bronx. DOB inspectors found that workers were performing brick work at the new 8-story building using a supported scaffold with inadequate guardrails and toe boards.

• $3,125 in penalties issued to AV. Greystone LLC, owner of 3804 Greystone Avenue, Bronx, for failure to maintain the building. DOB inspectors found that window air conditioning units were installed at the building without the proper support brackets at three sides of the building.

• The owners of 3306 Boller Avenue, Bronx, were cited for illegally utilizing the premises as a contractor’s yard, as well as for dead and commercial vehicle storage. A recent inspection revealed that the illegal use at the property had not been discontinued, and a hearing was rescheduled and conducted at OATH on September 27. 2021, resulting in a favorable Report and Recommendation. An Order of Closure will be posted at the premises. If the illegal use is not discontinued, the property will be padlocked.

• The owners of 2462 Frisby Avenue, Bronx were cited for illegally utilizing the premises as a parking lot and dead vehicle storage. A hearing was conducted with OATH which resulted in a favorable Report and Recommendation, and an Order of Closure was posted at the premises. A subsequent inspection of the location revealed that the illegal use had been discontinued. DOB will continue to monitor the location for compliance.

Manhattan

• $50,000 in total penalties issued to United Crane & Rigging Service for failure to provide adequate safety measures at a construction site at 749 FDR Drive, Manhattan. While the crane was lifting steel to the roof of a 14-story building, the slings broke off and the steel fell 14 stories causing the closure of FDR drive. DOB inspectors found that a crane was used in an unsafe manner and a competent qualified lift director was not on site at the time of the incident.

• $50,000 in penalties issued to Safety Registrant DMD Contracting NY LLC for failure to safeguard a construction site and failure to implement adequate safety measures at a construction site at 749 FDR Drive, Manhattan. While a crane at the site was lifting steel to the roof of a 14-story building, the slings broke off and the steel fell 14 stories causing the closure of FDR drive.

• $25,000 in penalties issued to Lift Director Diego Leon Rojas for failure to verify the weight of steel beams being lifted by a crane at construction site 749 FDR Drive, Manhattan, resulting in the lift and slings breaking.

• $25,000 in total penalties issued to 1039-1045 Madison Ave Owner LLC for displaying an illegal advertisement sign at 1045 Madison Avenue, Manhattan, which is located inside of a commercial zone that prohibits this type of advertising. The sign has since been removed.

• $16,250 in total penalties issued to 522 E 11th LLC for failure to maintain the exterior wall of their building at 522 East 11th Street, Manhattan, and for failure to install safety measures to protect the public from documented unsafe conditions.

• $16,250 in total penalties issued to 66 St. Nicholas Place LLC, the owners of 66 St. Nicholas Place, Manhattan, for illegal occupancy, installing laundry with gas dryers in the cellar without a permit, and using a gas plumbing system that was not properly tested. Additional violations were also issued for a non-code compliant sprinkler system, and for illegal flex hoses used on the gas dryers.

• $15,000 in total penalties issued to Safety Registrant Madison 30 31 Owner LLC for failure to safeguard a construction site at 15 East 30th Street, Manhattan. DOB inspectors found that on the 53rd floor of the building, there were large openings on the floor with no overhead protection measures for the workers in the floor below. Additionally, DOB inspectors found that cocoon system at the site was being removed without the means and method plans available at the time of inspection, egress paths at the site was blocked on multiple floors, pins were missing on the supported scaffold, stairwell lights had unsafe wiring, and there was a gap between stairs and a work landing that was not included on the approved plans for the project.

• $15,000 in total penalties issued to General Contractor Sweeney & Conroy, Inc. for failure to provide adequate logs for pre-shift meetings and failure to safeguard the construction site at 50 West 69th Street, Manhattan. These violations were issued after a worker who was accessing the 4th floor working deck fell 25 feet off an unsecured ladder. It was determined that the worker was not provided with adequate fall protection.

• $15,000 in total penalties issued to Safety Registrant Cauldwell Wingate Co. LLC for multiple safety violations at a construction site at 50 Trinity Place, Manhattan, where a worker was injured after falling off a ladder. DOB inspectors found that workers were improperly using the ladder over a stairwell, did not have three-point support or stairwell covering, and there were inadequate housekeeping measures being implemented at the site.

• $15,000 in total penalties issued to Safety Registrant Redcom Design & Construction after a worker fell off a baker scaffold at a construction site at 660 12th Avenue, Manhattan. DOB inspectors found that the scaffold was missing guardrails, was being used by workers with a scaffold training, and that no pre-shift safety meeting had been held informing workers of the possible hazards.

• $10,000 in penalties issued to Cooper Union Advancement Science for failure to provide adequate safety measures to protect the public from a documented unsafe façade condition at 50 Astor Place, Manhattan. The owners of the property filed an unsafe façade filing with the Department, but several weeks later a DOB inspection found that the required sidewalk shed around the building had only been partially installed.

• $10,000 in penalties issued to The Setai Condominium Residency, the owners of 40 Broad Street, Manhattan, for violating the discretionary zoning agreement for Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS) at the property. A DOB inspection of the property determined that the POPS was missing required plantings, trees and benches.

• $10,000 in penalties issued to Safety Registrant Turner Construction Company for failure to implement safety measures at a construction site at 509 West 34th Street, Manhattan. While responding to investigate reports that a piece of metal roofing fell onto the school yard adjacent to the construction site, DOB inspectors found similar metal roofing pieces lying around.

• $7,300 in total penalties issued to property owner Jing Ya Lin for removing a DOB Vacate Order sticker placed on apartment 701 on the 5th floor of 165 Henry Street. DOB inspectors found that the apartment was occupied by the tenants named on the lease in violation of the active Vacate Order, which had not been lifted.

• $5,000 in penalties issued to 200-210 E 65th Condo for violating the discretionary zoning requirements of the Privately Owned Public Space at 200 East 65th Street, Manhattan, after DOB inspectors found that the required POPS information plaque was obstructed by plantings.

• $5,000 in penalties issued to 418 East 59th Owners Corp, owner of 418 East 59th Street, for violating the discretionary zoning requirements of their Privately Owned Public Space. DOB inspectors found that 50% of seating was damaged, the water fountain was not operational, and the space lacked proper signage.

• $3,750 in total penalties issued to Tracking Number Holder NY Horizon Restoration Inc. for an inadequate Tenant Protection Plan (TPP) and failure to notify DOB of planned construction activity prior to commencement of work at an occupied building at 131 Avenue B, Manhattan.

• $1,250 in penalties issued to 55 Liberty Owners Corp. for failure to post and distribute the required Tenant Protection Plan for construction activity in an occupied building at 55 Liberty Street, Manhattan.

Queens

• $68,000 in total penalties issued to Jas Want Singh for the illegal alterations of a single-family house located at 137-19 97th Avenue, Queens. DOB inspectors found that the single-family house had been illegally converted into four Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units.

• $50,000 in total penalties issued to PG Properties of Queens LLC for illegally placing two advertising signs at 29-22 Hoyt Avenue, Queens, a commercial zone that prohibits advertising. The signs have since been removed.

• $50,000 in total penalties issued to 179-46 Hillside Realty Corp for displaying advertising signs at 179-46 Hillside Avenue, Queens, without permits in a prohibited zone and failure to register the signs.

• $20,000 in total penalties issued to Safety Registrant Structure R US Inc. for failure to have a construction superintendent or competent person present while work was ongoing at a construction site at 36-45 Prince Street, Queens. During DOB’s inspection of the work site, inspectors found seven workers on a supported scaffold that was not properly installed, and the contractors failed to produce pre-shift meeting records that were required for the site.

• $12,500 in total penalties issued to Tracking Number Holder Elite Illusion Construction for failure to notify DOB of earthwork and excavation work ongoing at 1128 Beach 9th Street, Queens. DOB inspectors found that the excavation area was exposed and near an unsupported and active gas line. Additionally, the inspection found that there was no egress on the safety plan, required documents were not made available to DOB inspectors at the time of the inspection, and the work site was missing guard rails.

• $12,500 in total penalties issued to Construction Superintendent Ziad Ekwaneen for failure to maintain the required work log at a construction site at 80-15 18tth Street, Queens. He was also issued a violation for failure to be present and perform his required duties as a Construction Superintendent at a second work site located at 132-11 Bennet Court, Queens.

• $12,500 in total penalties issued to General Contractor GIM Construction Inc. for failure to have a competent person responsible for site safety present at a construction site at 80-79 Tryon Place, Queens. DOB inspectors also found that the supported scaffold in place at the work site was not properly installed.

• $10,000 in penalties issued to Alco Builders, Inc. for failure to designate or have a construction superintendent at a construction site located at 170-39 Henley Road, Queens.

• $10,000 in penalties issued to Lift Director Rodney Bobwah for failure to perform the required duties of a lift director at construction site 35-01 36th Avenue, Queens. DOB inspectors found that the steel columns at the construction site were lifted outside the crane’s load capacity resulting in the crane tipping over onto a sidewalk shed.

• $10,000 in penalties issued to General Contractor PK Construction NY Inc. for failure to safeguard a construction site located at 69-18 60th Drive, Queens, after a worker was injured in a scaffold collapse. DOB inspectors found that the contractor failed to implement appropriate safety measures at the site, including unsafe installation of the scaffold, lack of controlled access zones, and no pre-shift meeting.

• $625 in penalties issued to LT Flushing Realty Holding LLC for installing an outdoor sign at 156-01 45 Avenue, Queens, without a permit. The sign has since been removed.

• The owners of 135-08 142 Street, Queens, were cited for using the premise as an illegal parking lot and junk storage. A hearing was conducted with OATH and the respondent did not appear as required, resulting in a favorable Report & Recommendation. The premises will be padlocked if the use is not discontinued.

• The owners of 94-16 54 Avenue, Queens, were cited for illegally using the premises for motorcycle repairs, dead and junk storage of motor vehicles. Prior to a hearing scheduled with OATH, proof of discontinuance was submitted to the Department, so the hearing was withdrawn. DOB will to monitor the location for continued compliance.

• The owners of 107-07 & 107-11 Fern Avenue, Queens, were cited for illegally utilizing the two lots as an illegal parking lot and junk storage. A hearing was conducted with OATH resulting in a favorable Report & Recommendation, and as a result an Order of Closure was posted at both premises. The gate to the lot was padlocked because the illegal use was not discontinued.

• The owners of 133-28 78th Street were cited for illegally utilizing the premises for commercial vehicle and junk storage. Following a hearing at OATH, a Report and Recommendation for closure was issued by OATH and the premises was posted with the closure order and subsequently padlocked. A recent DOB inspection revealed that the padlock had been illegally removed and the illegal use continuing so it was re-padlocked. DOB will continue to monitor the property for compliance.

• The owners of 321 Bert Road, Queens, were cited for illegally utilizing the premises as a dead and junk storage of motor vehicles and boats. Prior to a hearing scheduled with OATH, a stipulation was entered into with the respondent’s representative giving the owner and occupant until January 20, 2022 to discontinue the illegal uses. DOB will continue to monitor the location for compliance.

• The owners of 105-39 134th Street, Queens, were cited for illegally utilizing the premises as a contractor’s yard. Prior to a hearing scheduled with OATH, the owner and occupant submitted evidence that the illegal use was discontinued so the hearing was withdrawn. DOB will continue to monitor the location for compliance.

• The owners of 140-26 30th Drive, Queens, were cited for illegally utilizing the premises as a motorcycle repairs and sales. Subsequent to the issuance of a warning letter, the owner and occupant submitted evidence that the illegal use was discontinued. DOB will continue to monitor the location for compliance.

 

Staten Island

• $10,000 in penalties issued to Safety Registrant SNL Construction LLC for failure to institute safety measures at construction site 2604 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island. DOB inspectors found that there was no fall protection for workers utilizing an A-frame ladder within six feet of a leading edge at the 2nd story of the site, above a guardrail system. It was also determined that fall danger and fall protection discussions were not included in the pre-shift safety meeting, as required.

• $6,250 in penalties issued to Port Richmond Ventures LLC for failure to maintain an exterior wall at a building at 2060 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, resulting in about five bricks falling onto the sidewalk from the second floor of the building. DOB inspectors also found that the remaining section of the wall was leaning without proper bracing.

• The owners of 205 Granite Avenue, Staten Island, were cited for illegally utilizing the premises as a contractor’s yard and for junk storage. A hearing was conducted with OATH, resulting in a favorable Report & Recommendation and the posting of an Order of Closure at the premises. Subsequent to the posting, the illegal use was discontinued. DOB will continue to monitor the location for compliance.

Construction and Design Professionals

• Following an audit of five professionally certified applications submitted by Registered Architect Brian T. O’Connor, the Department found major non-compliance issues, including filing an Alteration Type 2 application despite proposing changes in use and/or occupancy, which require an Alteration Type 1 application for a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy; increasing the degree of nonconformance by proposing a structural alteration to an existing non-conforming use building; and multiple code deficiencies related to the design and installation of sidewalk sheds. Based on these audits, DOB offered a voluntary surrender of Mr. Pichardo’s Professional Certification and Directive 14 privileges to which he signed, and which took effect on August 1, 2021.

• Registered Architect Sohel Ahmed was disciplined by the Department, after it was determined that he had filed multiple technical reports with the Department indicating performance of Directive 14 final inspection sign-offs, despite him previously voluntarily surrendering those Directive 14 privileges back in 2018.  Based on these findings, DOB offered a permanent voluntary surrender of Mr. Ahmed’s Professional Certification and Directive 14 privileges, and a two-year voluntary surrender of all Department filing privileges to which he signed, and which took effect on August 21, 2021.

• Following an audit of eight professionally certified applications submitted by Professional Engineer Paul J. Hessel, the Department found major non-compliance issues, including filing an Alteration Type 2 application despite proposing changes in use and/or occupancy, which require an Alteration Type 1 application for a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy; failure to provide adequate light, air and ventilation; increasing the degree of Zoning nonconformance in an existing non-complying building; proposing a Zoning Use not permitted as-of-right in the Zoning District; proposing an exhaust outlet conveying vapors, fumes, or dusts from a spray booth closer than 30 feet from the property line; and various other violations of Code and rules. Based on these findings, DOB offered a voluntary surrender of Mr. Hessel’s Professional Certification and Directive 14 privileges which he signed, and which took effect on September 1, 2021.

• Following an audit of five professionally certified applications submitted by Professional Engineer Anthony Gurball, the Department found major non-compliance issues, including filing an Alteration Type 2 application despite proposing changes in use and/or occupancy, which require an Alteration Type 1 application for a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy; proposing a Zoning Use not permitted as-of-right in the Zoning District; failure to provide adequate means of egress; failure to provide adequate accessibility for persons with physical disabilities; and various other violations of Code and rules. Based on these findings, DOB offered a voluntary surrender of Mr. Gurball’s Professional Certification and Directive 14 privileges which he signed, and which took effect on September 7, 2021.

• Following an audit of twelve professionally certified applications submitted by Registered Architect Mark Kroeckel, the Department found major non-compliance issues, including filing an Alteration Type 2 application despite proposing changes in use and/or occupancy, which require an Alteration Type 1 application for a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy; proposing a Zoning Use not permitted as-of-right in the Zoning District; failure to provide adequate light, air and ventilation; failure to provide an automatic sprinkler system; failure to provide adequate accessibility for persons with physical disabilities; failure to provide adequate fire separation and fire resistant materials; failure to provide adequate means of egress; and various other violations of Code and rules. Based on these findings, DOB offered a voluntary surrender of Mr. Kroeckel’s Professional Certification and Directive 14 privileges which he signed, and which took effect on September 20, 2021.

• Following an audit of five professionally certified applications submitted by Professional Engineer Talal Alokush, the Department found major non-compliance issues, including filing an Alteration Type 2 application despite proposing changes in use and/or occupancy, which require an Alteration Type 1 application for a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy; failure to provide an automatic fire-extinguishing system and exhaust hood for a commercial kitchen; failure to provide adequate fire separation and fire resistant materials; failure to provide adequate means of egress; proposing a Zoning Use not permitted as-of-right in the Zoning District; increasing the degree of Zoning non-conformance in an existing non-conforming building; failure to provide adequate accessibility for persons with physical disabilities; and various other violations of Code and rules. Based on these findings, DOB offered a voluntary surrender of Mr. Alokush’s Professional Certification and Directive 14 privileges which he signed, and which took effect on September 25, 2021.

• Following an audit of six professionally certified applications submitted by Professional Engineer Xiao Huang, the Department found major non-compliance issues, including filing an Alteration Type 2 application despite proposing changes in use and/or occupancy, which require an Alteration Type 1 application for a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy; failure to provide adequate means of egress; failure to provide adequate accessibility for persons with physical disabilities; proposing a Zoning Use not permitted as-of-right in the Zoning District; increasing the degree of Zoning non-conformance in an existing non-conforming building; failure to provide adequate fire resistant materials; failure to provide adequate light, air and ventilation; and various other violations of Code and rules. Based on these findings, DOB offered a voluntary surrender of Mr. Huang’s Professional Certification and Directive 14 privileges which he signed, and which took effect on September 26, 2021.

• Following an audit of seven professionally certified applications submitted by Professional Engineer Kenny Mak, the Department found major non-compliance issues, including filing an Alteration Type 2 application despite proposing changes in use and/or occupancy, which require an Alteration Type 1 application for a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy; failure to provide an automatic sprinkler system; failure to provide adequate light, air and ventilation; increasing the degree of Zoning nonconformance in an existing non-complying building; failure to provide adequate means of egress; failure to provide adequate accessibility for persons with disabilities; and various other violations of Code and rules. Based on these findings, DOB offered a voluntary surrender of Mr. Mak’s Professional Certification and Directive 14 privileges which he signed, and which took effect on October 22, 2021.

• Following an audit of six professionally certified applications submitted by Registered Architect Paul Giammona, the Department found major non-compliance issues, including filing an Alteration Type 2 application despite proposing changes in use and/or occupancy, which require an Alteration Type 1 application for a new or amended Certificate of Occupancy; failure to provide adequate means of egress; proposing a Physical Culture Establishment without obtaining BSA approval; failure to provide adequate fire rated materials; failure to provide adequate accessibility for persons with physical disabilities; and various other violations of Code and rules. Based on these findings, DOB offered a voluntary surrender of Mr. Giammona’s Professional Certification and Directive 14 privileges which he signed, and which took effect on October 27, 2021.

• Construction Superintendent Meng Hua Wang agreed entered into a stipulation with DOB to not renew his Construction Superintendent and General Contractor licenses due to his accrual of a high number of OATH summonses. The respondent’s General Contractor registration has since expired, and their Construction Superintendent license will be on probation until it expires on January 21, 2022.

For previously issued Enforcement Action Bulletins, please visit our website.