Construction Of New Building On Union Street Causes Huge Headache For Neighboring Building Owners

Late last week, excavation work for a new single family building at number 467 Union Street caused severe structural cracks to the neighboring buildings at 463 and  465 Union Street.  In response, NYC Department Of Buildings imposed a complete Stop Work Order for number 467 and served a Vacate Order to number 465.

Once featured as a House Of The Day on Brownstoner, the original building at 467 Union Street was marketed by Corcoran as a teardown.   After some time on the market, it  was eventually sold for $377,000 in March 2012 to Jill and John Bouratoglou, the husband and wife team behind Bouratoglou Architect, PC.  Shortly afterwards, permits were filed with NYC Department Of Buildings for a  four-story, one family house.
Work on the site began in early June 2012. Almost immediately, there was trouble.  After several complaints to DOB, a Full Stop Work Order was served by the Brooklyn Borough Commissioner on August 22, but rescinded on August 28th.
Then on August 29th, more cracking appeared on the façade of the neighboring building, prompting DOB to serve a new Stop Work Order to 467 Union Street.  But the agency also served a vacate order to the owner and tenants of Number 465, stating that the structure had been undermined by the excavation.

Not the best start for Bouratoglou Architect, PC, and a real nightmare for their new neighbors.