[10th Street side]
The Department of Buildings recently put into place an amended rule governing exterior wall inspections and repairs for owners of buildings higher than six floors who fail to upkeep their properties.
This change came about after architect Erica Tishman was killed by falling debris from a Midtown office building in December.
However, as the Daily News reported, this new rule doesn't apply to the long-vacant P.S. 64 on Ninth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C.
Per the News:
Because the school is lower than six stories and now has the proper protections up, including several sidewalk sheds, it won’t be newly scrutinized, building officials said.
"Stabilization work in the building has been performed, and the Department of Buildings continues to closely monitor the situation to protect pedestrians," said Jane Meyer, a spokeswoman for Mayor de Blasio.
But the vacate order from last February is still active, DOB records show — which leave people who live nearby skeptical of the city’s claims.
"There's a lack of oversight that is going on," said Carolyn Ratcliffe, 77, who is president of the 9 BC Tompkins Square Block Association. "We really feel like we're being blown off."
Read the full article here.
[9th Street side]
Developer Gregg Singer bought the property — the former P.S 64 and CHARAS/El Bohio community center — from the city during an auction in 1998. The landmarked building has been empty for years. You can read the archives for more on the long history here.