Construction Boom Halted Again in Norwood;
Stop Work Orders Issued at 2 of 4 New Projects
by David Greene
At least three stop-work orders have been issued for 374 East 204 Street at Webster Avenue, since the project began in 2013.–Photo by David
A building boom along a 4-block stretch in Norwood has once again been halted as the Department of Building’s (DOB) has issued stop work orders at two of the four projects currently under development.
A powerful wind and rain storm on April 16, brought down the building’s facade and roof at 3083 Hull Avenue. The property consists of two stores on Hull and three shops along East 204 Street.
According to DOB records, a full vacate order and a partial stop-work order remains in effect. Records reveal, “There is an active permit for interior demolition of the property, however a violation for work without permit was issued for activities outside the scope of the permitted job at the time of the collapse.” DOB officials refused to elaborate on the specific violation.
Worker’s have been working to stabilize the structure at 3038 Hull Avenue, after a wind and rain storm brought down the building’s roof and facade.–Photo by David Greene
According to DOB documents, members of the DOB’s Interior Demolition Unit continue to work with an engineer hired by owner, Brooklyn-based developer Transition Acquisitions– to oversee the continued emergency stabilization work and partial demolition of the building in order to protect the public.
Worker’s put up a protection barricade around the five stores effected at the intersection of Hull Avenue and East 204 Street.–Photo by David Greene
Back in January, Faith Hope Consolo of the Douglas Elliman Real Estate, the building owners exclusive leasing agent, stated, “We have the possibility to build two levels and really make something special.”
Shortly after the collapse, Consolo explained, “I do not have any details,” of the incident.
A man shows a burn on the top of his head that he claimed came from a welder working on the 4th floor at Webster Avenue and East 204 Street.–Photo by David Greene
Meanwhile, a passerby was burned on the top of his head by an ember, from a welder performing work on the fourth-floor at 374 East 204 Street at Webster Avenue. The remodeling project consists of a new 5-story building being built atop an existing 1-story commercial business.
The victim, who declined to be publicly identified, recalled, “I just kept walking, I didn’t see the flames. I felt it on my head as I walked past and the guy was telling me to hold on.”
A Department of Building’s inspector slaps a stop-work order on the emergency barricade after a partial building collapse at the corner of Hull Avenue and East 204 Street.–Photo by David Greene
The victim continued, “I was coming out from under the scaffold and it got me right there, when I came out. They had no protection, nothing. Just someone standing in the street. That’s why they left. He called the guy on the phone, told him to stop working and he came down. This job has been shut down plenty of times.”
A DOB record of the incident reports, “A partial stop-work order was issued for welding operations on 5/7/18 due to a pedestrian injury; a violation was also issued for failure to safeguard the public.” The DOB report continued, “The partial stop work order due to the ongoing dispute with the owner of the adjacent property is also still in effect.”
That ongoing dispute between developer Edward Khalil and homeowner Darrell Burgess, began almost from the day the project began back in 2013.
According to Burgess, “Its considered as renovation, not new construction, that’s how they get around a lot of rules.” Overlooking the initial problems, Burgess recalled, “It took me a long time to mount a fight, which was a big mistake on my part.”
“It really makes you wonder,” Burgess concludes, “if these inspectors are on the take, how do they come out here and not see” what’s going on at construction sites.
When contacted by telephone, an employee of Khalil stated that the developer was at a job site and was unreachable before the publication of this article.
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