December 10, 2007
Buildings Dept. Head Shielded Scarano from Regulators
Architect Robert Scarano, who has been charged with violating city building standards at 32 properties, has an ally at the Department of Buildings. The Daily News is reporting that Patricia Lancaster, the department's commissioner, hid Scarano's mistakes, signing a stipulation in which she promised not to report Scarano to any regulatory agency that could revoke his license.
The News article is part of its I-Team Special Investigation unit. Reporter Brian Kates explains that Lancaster promised not to provide regulators "any information or documents that form the basis for the [department's] assertions and allegations" and said she would hide the information from the press, "except to say that the matter has been resolved satisfactorily."
Specifically, Lancaster hid a charge that the architect signed off on unsafe conditions at the site where Anthony Duncan Sr., a construction worker, was crushed to death in 2006 when a building collapsed. In exchange, Scarano removed himself from the department's self-certification program. Here's what Duncan's son said:
"If they are not going to pursue Scarano to the fullest extent, then who are they going to pursue?" asked Duncan's son, Anthony Jr. "It's like they're laughing in my face ... Scarano is still working, but my father is dead."Several other deaths, reportedly due to carelessness, occurred at Scarano sites. Brooklyn's "bad-boy" architect, as the Brooklyn Paper put it, also has been cited for ignoring zoning regulations.
The Real Deal recently quoted Scarano: "I very happily go through what I used to before self-certification. The extra scrutiny brings a higher level to the way we do our work. Now we are forced to dot the i's and cross the t's -- but we still push the envelope."
In light of the Lancaster debacle, "extra scrutiny" has a whole new meaning.
Update: According to Department of Buildings spokeswoman Kate Lindquist, the State knew of Scarano's misdeeds at the time of the stipulation, which was used to remove Scarano from the Professional Certification Program. She likened it to a plea bargain that "gets a licensed professional out of the system immediately."
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look's like the DOB is back to it's old ways,
so much for the new sheriff in town cleaning things up.
At the least, wouldn't her actions be a violation of Agency laws? Or at the last be a conflict of Interest?
How can a public official be bound by a Non-disclosure agreement that is contrary to her job?
Apparently, architects adhere to the No Snitch rule as well.
architects and engineers can self cert plans.
what does he mean by push the envelope when it comes to the building codes?
Its quite simple. You have a set of plans that you file with the city and they approve them. However you have a second set of plans that you give to your contractor (usually a set with more bathrooms, illegal floors, extra bedrooms, ect). Then when the building inspector comes through he has his set of plans to inspect for compliance then he issues a TCO. Usually if something doesn't match they make you correct it or you file for the change. However sneaky Scaranao and his contractors have been known to simple build temporary walls in front of illegal bedrooms or leave toilets out of bathrooms. It is very clear to the inspector that the builder is doing this but legally it matches his set of plans so they are in compliance. Scarano has done this a number of times by using "mezzanines" and then later turning the into resalable or rental space.
He should be charged with manslaughter!