Architects With History Of Breaking Building Regulations Set To Design New Windsor Terrace Residences

A new residential development in Windsor Terrace has been in the works since the beginning of 2016 which will consist of four three-story residential buildings, YIMBY has reported.

However the architecture firm of record has a rather jaded history — including the revocation of professional certification privileges by one of the firm’s owners.

According to YIMBY, a Brooklyn-based property owner, who has remained anonymous, filed applications for 6-8 East 4th Street near the corner of Vanderbilt Street. More recently, permits have been filed for 4 East 4th Street and 10 East 4th Street — properties which will bookend and extend the footprint of the entire project.

Bricolage Architecture and Design — the firm who is currently scheduled to design this project — was behind a building collapse in Brighton Beach which took place on November 8, 2011. A worker was killed in the incident at 2929 Brighton 5th Street near Neptune Avenue.

Council Member Dominic Recchia announced the following after the incident:

“After a preliminary investigation, the foundation of the collapsed building was not built in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Building Code and Administrative Code with the City of New York. Reports from the Building Department and city agencies that were at the scene said the concrete was not poured properly, the steel beams were not securely attached, and no engineer was on site during building hours. Many questions need to be answered and I will work with Councilman Michael Nelson to make sure that a full investigation goes underway so we can prevent another tragedy like this from happening in South Brooklyn.”

Bricolage Architecture and Design is still owned by Henry Radusky and Douglas Pulasksi, however a Department of Buildings official told Park Slope Stoop that Pulaski surrendered his professional certification privileges in 2009.

“They have been known by the Buildings Department for many years to operate on the fringe,” said Assembly Member James Brennan in the article, who in 2005 demanded all projects submitted by the firm to be reviewed.

In 2015, residents at 14 Verona Street in Red Hook were “outraged” by what they considered unsafe conditions in their building.

“There are no handi-cap ramps,” resident Michael Eckblad told PIX 11. “There’s no elevator that is designed for residential use. There’s no roof access. We’re paying to heat the hallways. There’s no proper fireproofing over all of the gas lines. There’s water leaking all over the place. Do you want me to keep going?”

In the report, PIX 11 highlighted what he believed to be significant inaction by the DOB over Bricolage’s previous projects: “Even before the accident Assemblyman James Brennan called for a review of all projects by architect Henry Radusky and his firm Bricolage Designs citing a ‘rubber stamp’ policy at the Department of Buildings for allegedly illegal plans.”

Bricolage has also designed previous projects in the neighborhood, including Novo Park Slope at 343 4th Avenue and 5th Street. The New York Times reported the building “had construction defects, according to a summons with notice that the condo board filed in 2011.”

The Windsor Terrace development will consist of 18 residential units in total. According to YIMBY, “Across all four, the units should average 1,105 square feet apiece, indicative of condominiums.” The project includes plans for 12 off-street parking spaces.

The DOB said work permits have not been issued for the new project at 4-10 East 4th Street.