Author: linked

City Weighs Extent of Concrete Retesting

Speaking of construction quality, this should give people pause:

The testing of concrete by companies like Testwell is one of the most basic safety measures used for all kinds of construction projects in the city, from office towers and apartment houses to bridges and subways.

Thing is,

Testwell, according to people briefed on the case, [allegedly] falsified compression tests. Such tests are the key to determining the strength of the material used in reinforced concrete buildings…

Cracking Down on Shoddy Condos

Shoddy condos? Shoddy luxury condos? Impossible.

Is anyone really surprised that a development environment that wantonly flouts zoning, safety and construction codes might also be taking the concept of “value engineering” to new depths? That “build it fast” might not translate into “build it well”?

If they are serious about this, DOB and the AG’s office will be very busy in the coming years. Right now, they are going after the low-hanging fruit (the article says that the only case the AG has pursued so far is Mendel Brach’s project on “Bedford Street in Brooklyn”, by which I assume they mean the notorious Spencer Street project in Bed-Stuy).

Not surprisingly, the RealDeal reports that the AG’s office is “backlogged with condo construction/fraud complaints”. Also not exactly news is the revelation that DOB hasn’t been paying much attention:

[part] of the blame for poorly built condos also resides with the Department of Buildings. The agency, whose job it is to make sure buildings are habitable, has often been asleep at the wheel and has also green-lighted bad projects, sources said.

One Bedroom

This past weekend, we learned from the Times that there is a glut of one-bedroom apartments in Manhattan.

Seems like it was only a few months ago that one-bedrooms were the future of the Williamsburg market. Oh yeah, it was only a few months ago:

[Toll V.P. David Von Spreckelsen] said the second phase of Northside Piers would have more studios and one-bedrooms — so far the sweet spot in the Williamsburg market…

Lets hope that “so far” holds.

111 Kent

The RealDeal profiles 111 Kent (The Edge’s little friend, designed by Michael Muroff Architects). Quote of the day from agent Christine Blackburn of PDE:

[We’re targeting] people who want waterfront and views, but want it West Village-style, something that’s a smaller building. We’re the Superior Ink of Williamsburg.

The L Train is Reliable

The Straphangers Campaign ranked the L train as the best in system. It’s scheduled every three-and-a-half minutes in the morning rush, comes on time, has regular, audible announcements, fewer breakdowns, and is cleaner than the average subway lines… The Straphanger’s put a $1.40 value on an L train ride. The one drawback — it’s nearly impossible to get a seat at rush hour.

The L was also top rated in the announcement category and in the on-time category (tied with the J/Z, actually).

I don’t take the L often enough to say if service has improved dramatically, but if it has, that is really great news.