Stop Work Order Of The Day: Destroying Existing Building When Permit Only Allows Two Additional Floors

Back in November '08
Only beams of existing structure at 85 Third Street remained

                                           November '08: After demo

November '08: Original structure gone

85 Third Street Today

Looks suspiciously like a new structure

No sign of existing structure

Two 'Stop Work Orders' have been rescinded

So let me get this straight: A developer proposes a two-story addition to an existing building at 85 Third Street. He gets approval and a permit from the Department of Buildings. Then he proceeds to tear the existing structure down and puts a new structure in its place. 

I am not an expert, but even the latest permits seem to still mention that this is an alteration instead of new construction.Pardon me for asking, but is there something I am missing?

****UPDATE****

A reader passed along a photo f what 85 3rd Street looked like in the fall of '08 during demo

Thanks, Lisa De Brooklyn




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Stop Work Order Of The Day: Destroying Existing Building When Permit Only Allows Two Additional Floors