City Hall, NY – February 21, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Today, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn announced details of new legislation that will protect New York City homeowners seeking to physically elevate their homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Council Member Vincent Ignizo, lead sponsor of the legislation, Minority Leader James S. Oddo and additional Council Members joined at today’s announcement.
The legislation will require that:
1) Construction plans clearly state whether a project will involve home elevation work;
2) Contractors give 48 hours’ notice to the Department of Buildings before elevating a home, which will give the Department the opportunity to monitor the work;
3) Home elevation work be done under the supervision of an approved special inspector; and
4) The Department of Consumer Affairs provide education to the public regarding the types of work home improvement contractors can do, and the licenses and permits needed by such contractors to do different kinds of work, including home elevation work.
This legislation is prompted in part by Louisiana’s experience following Hurricane Katrina. In Louisiana, a rush to elevate homes, without first putting in place proper procedural safeguards, led to a home collapse and construction site death.
Currently, to elevate a home, plans for the work must be prepared by a licensed architect or engineer and must be approved by the Department of Buildings.
The legislation will be introduced at the next Council Stated meeting on Wednesday, February 27th and will be referred to the Council’s Housing and Buildings Committee.
“It’s our job in government to protect homeowners seeking to better protect their homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy,” said Speaker Quinn. “That’s why I’m proud to announce that the City Council is preemptively taking measures to ensure that the proper safeguards are in place when home elevation work begins throughout the city. This new legislation will result in both safer homes and construction sites for New Yorkers. I want to thank Council Members Ignizio and Oddo for taking the lead on this important issue.”
“Home elevation is going to be an increasing issue in New York as we continue the recovery process, post Hurricane Sandy,” said Council Member Vincent Ignizio. “We have a responsibility to both educate and protect homeowners seeking to raise their homes. Homeowners need to be informed of the proper steps to performing a safe and reliable house raising, as well as ensuring the contractors performing the work are certified and monitored.”
“This legislation is designed to ensure all elevations of homes are done correctly by professionals,” said Minority Leader Oddo. “One of the clear lessons we learned from our 48 hours on the ground in New Orleans last month was that rampant improper elevating of homes occurred after Katrina. We have to do all we can to protect homeowners.”
“As thousands of New Yorkers continue to recover from the effects of Hurricane Sandy, we need to ensure that all aspects of the rebuilding and renovation process are done as safely as possible,” said Council Member Erik Martin Dilan, Chair of the Housing & Buildings Committee. “This bill will ensure that going forward, homeowners who choose to elevate their homes will get the necessary work done that is up to par with our city’s construction codes.”
“I support any legislative measure that will help ensure the long-term safety of our waterfront neighborhoods,” said Councilwoman Sara M. González. “Our City needs to proactively plan and build to meet the rising challenge of climate change. This will be a step in the right direction.”
“It is important that the City Council protect homeowners from those who seek to exploit the experience of hurricane Sandy for their personal gain,” said Council Member Margaret Chin. “We encourage homeowners in low-lying areas to learn from the experience of Sandy and better prepare their homes for severe weather events. However, we also want to ensure that these improvements are made as safely and efficiently as possible. I want to thank Speaker Quinn, Majority Leader Oddo, and Council Member Ignizio for continuing to look out for New Yorkers in the areas that were most impacted by hurricane Sandy.”
“In the wake of Superstorm Sandy’s devastation, it’s critical that we rebuild our homes and communities back better and stronger than before,” said Council Member Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. “This legislation ensures exactly that. As families rebuild and modify their homes, they can have peace of mind knowing that the contractors doing the work will be qualified and that the work itself will be monitored and inspected throughout the process.”
CITY HALL
NEW YORK, NY 10007
(212) 788-7116
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Contact: 212-788-7116
Release # 027-2013
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