Structural Concerns
Common Party Wall
We secured the opinion of a registered architect. His certified Opinion Letter states that the southern wall of 736 is build directly on top of the northern wall of 734. In technical terms, the buildings share a "common party wall." He writes that it is of "great concern that the structural integrity of this existing common party wall supporting both 736 and 736 not be compromised at all." Evidence strongly suggests that Sackman has already begun illegal excavation in the basement of 734, which has affected this wall. A Buildings Dept. forensic architect agrees, but the subsequent emergency inspection he ordered has not been carried out and the complaint has been closed.
Cracks, Shocks and Debris
In early May 2008, a resident in the B line (south-west vertical line of apartments, greatest contact with 734) felt a shock as a crack appeared in her living room's south wall and all the books fell of the bookshelf on that wall. Two days later, concrete debris appeared in the front yards of 732 and 734. On examination, our architect wrote that "I note that significant debris currently in the front yard of 734 appears to be the result of demolition done in a basement." The Department of Buildings forensic architect also witnessed the debris during his May 19th visit.
Complaints and Inspections
Despite many complaints (732 - 734) to the Department of Buildings, it seems that no inspector has actually entered 732-734 to determine exactly what has been going on there. Many of these complaints have been set to Closed or Resolved without addressing the problem. For example:
- This is a "Priority A" complaint for "EXCAVATION - UNDERMINING ADJACENT BUILDING" that has been Closed without an inspector setting foot in the building.
An ex-Buildings Dept. official, when shown the official record of these complaints and violations blurted out to one of our tenants, without a second thought, "the inspectors are paid off."