This really isn't a surprise to anyone that saw these 'luxury' buildings sprout up like dandelions overnight.

or sprout up 1/4 of the way - sit open to the elements for 3 years during the credit crisis - then finish up in a few months in 2010 (dunno if that's the case with this one)

Yeah this one was stalled for years.

It's incredibly unsurprising that this happened— this building sat abandoned and unsecured for something like 5 years. Click through to Street View and click on the little clock on the top left and you can see its decay, before the eventual bandaids that allowed them to rent apartments to suckers:
https://www.google.com/maps...

I remember getting bagels across the street and wondering if the building would have to be torn down, sitting empty so long. Seems like it might well need to be.

re:"It's incredibly unsurprising that this happened— this building sat abandoned and unsecured for something like 5 years"
there is a "new" building on my street that also fits this description. there are already advertisements for commercial tenants. meanwhile, the gate leading to the handicap ramp wasn't even constructed correctly (initially). i'm waiting to see who will eventually take the bait and move in, either as a commercial tenant or as a residential tenant.

i feel like "suckers" is too strong of a word. your average person that just wants to find an apt quickly and forget about the miserable process of looking for one. what kind of person has the qualifications to properly figure out whether the building is safe to live in? I personally looked into this place a while back and looked at the apts. They looked just fine (albeit overpriced). I'm glad i didnt move in, in retrospect. But back then, there was no way I would have known.

You are partly correct... true, it's tough to find the right rental. However, one can access any building's construction history via the DOB database simply by entering the address. A lot number will then be provided and from there any history of violations or complaints. I admit that even a DOB search may not yield a history beneficial to prospective tenants. But it in the case of the Bedford Lofts, construction violations would be available and certainly would have put me off.

Of three new luxury buildings that went up on my block in the last few years, two have significant complaints from the tenants such as water damage when it rains, plumbing problems and poorly insulated walls and windows that affect occupants during the winter.

I've heard from several people who rent at recently-built "luxury" developments about the problems they have. Most complaints were about leaking pipes and rain water seeping into their apartments. One noticed that her bedroom floor was sagging. I would strongly recommend people avoid any new construction unless you speak to several people who live there. Hopefully they'll be honest if they have issues. Just don't move in blind. Maybe early to mid 20th century buildings that were recently renovated would be a better bet. 19th century buildings can have their issues as well (I would know). Who knows how many other recently constructed buildings are a disaster waiting to happen?

I watched two go up directly across the street from me. The shoddiness of the construction was obvious. It's what convinced me not to buy in a new build in brooklyn. And I've warned everyone I know of the same for years. And those buildings? They've had numerous repairs in the 12 years they've been completed.

It's the same thing all across the country. New developments are going up, but they're built poorly. A lot of money is being charged due to location an amenities, but the buildings are clearly not being built to last and will look terrible within 10 years.

If they have to tear it down, this has the potential to be a watershed moment that could put the brakes on other developments in the wild west of Brooklyn. Unless it will take a building collapse with a significant loss of life for that to happen.

Given the corruption in this city, I think it will sadly take a residential Triangle Shirtwaist incident to bring real reform.

I don't know if speed of development necessarily reflects upon quality. I mean, the Empire State Building was built in just a bit over a year.

How about criminal prosecution and prison for those involved? NYC needs to get serious about these rampant, life-threatening violations.

Think of all the money could make over REAL fines for these criminals. Hit them where it hurts.

seriously. tens of thousands of dollars in fines all unpaid. how about enforcing stop work orders until all fines are paid, increasing each fine each week they aren't paid?? it's not that hard.

They'll work in violation of the stop work order. You think they care? The cost of the fines is pennies on the dollar to get SWO's lifted for multiple offenders when there's a mortgage and opportunity cost to be paid.

It's "the cost of doing business."

And discourage a highly profitable luxury housing construction boom?

So true but incidents like this make this "boom" oh so fragile. Its hurts nobody but the residents of the city, the people that are shelling out the cash. Fines just escalate the cost of rent and again it hurts no one but us. Corruption is in more places that we all know and it becoming more and more untolerable.

and decree that their families take up residence there...
i do hope they are investigating the other buildings these sleazebags were involved with... and every other glass/steel monstrosity that has gone up in the past 10 years.

I'd also say that repeat offenses need to result in escalating fines, up to and including confiscation of the property.

Why are any of these people not 100% banned from real estate in NYC?

It amazes me that we have police forces around to country committing graft through civil asset forfeiture bullshit, but people that legitimately deserve to have their shit seized by the state operate with impunity.

I actually used to work for an expediter and think the job that got me fired was corruption...

That being said I think a lot of the DOBs shittyness is overworked and underpaid staff. The job that got me fired was the exception. There were a lot more shady people in private industry (work first, file later) than at the DOB.

Politicians and developers go hand-in-hand. The construction boom all-over the world is a giant ring of corruption. Developers and a sense of humanity don't mix.

Oh I agree. NYC real estate (especially at the super high end) is a giant money laundering scheme. This raises prices for everyone... I seriously wonder what rents and house prices would like look without the money laundering/airbnb.

"People actually intend to live there?" ~property investment cunt

because they operate not only in NYC but in many states under different names. You are better off living in a tent.

Donations from shell companies that buy political seats...

I hate the Post, but credit where it's due: That headline was what everybody was thinking.

Yes, the Hasidim are such holy people.

Hasidim, but I don't believe 'em!

"It sucks. Why would they do this right before the holiday?"

Yes, it's a shame you weren't crushed alive by your shitty overpriced structurally unsound 'luxury' apartment. You know what? Lets ask the DoB to allow you to stay so you can leave when YOU are ready.

To be fair, it's not their fault the building is a deathtrap. Too bad Max Stark is already dead, tho.

True, but it is their fault that they paid $5,000+ for that monstrosity.

Better there than in my hood.

Its funny... kids with trust funds come into this town starting a job buy ridiculous 5k studios.... They arent very smart. Im a young working professional but I do live in Williamsburg in a 3 br 2 bath for a total of 3.2k a month. Oh and I'm a block from the Graham ave L stop.

I live on Morgan....and I have been here for about 2 years. Most of the "kids with trust funds" are pretending to be poor artists and they live in gross lofts like McKibbin. The people in these condos look a lot like the people who live in park slope, juggling strollers & espresso and gabbering in Italian or French. Just my observation.

Right, but it's still an incredibly stupid thing to say. They should be thanking the DOB and calling their renters insurance company to get reimbursement for temporary hoteling and essentials.

Hell, they should already be working on legal suits against the current scumbag slumlord, not that it matters, because he'll already be working on submitting bankruptcy papers only to sell the assets to another holding company of his.

Highly doubt they've got renters' insurance, but they do need some perspective. If the building is that far gone, get out.

If you can afford $5k/mo for a studio and don't put another $300/yr toward insurance, you deserve what you get.

Probably. Though I will say I never gave it a thought until I moved to a place that required coverage.

Twenty-somethings are dumb.

Instead the Red Cross is putting them up though. Something about that irks me.

The vast majority of people I have assisted as a Red Cross volunteer have no renters' insurance. I've been to something around 200 emergencies and three--THREE--people have had insurance.

The Red Cross goes to every residential fire and vacate in NYC--no discrimination.

"Hey, look, I've lived here for a while and it hasn't collapsed yet. How bad could it be?"

If they want to stay, let them stay. Cordon off the building and make them sign a waiver that in the event of a collapse emergency services will not respond. If they still call 911 just ignore the call and let them die.

Libertarian utopia! We could do this with all of our housing for the poors too. Rand Paul would be proud.