Page 19 - CooperatorNews New Jersey Spring 2022

YOU’LL LEARN SO MUCH YOUR HEAD COULD EXPLODE. (Our lawyers said we had to warn you.) MEADOWLANDS EXPO CENTER, SECAUCUS — WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 10–4 FREE REGISTRATION: NJ-EXPO.COM and have 280 trees on our property—some of shrubs can separate areas and provide visual which are among the most beautiful of their interest. Especially since the coronavirus pan- species in all of Manhattan.” Anastasio goes on to reveal that “A whole at the dead space on their property and think- mess of trees were just totally decimated by ing about revamping it to accommodate to- Local Law 11”—the requirement of all city day’s needs. buildings over six stories to undergo inspec- tions and repairs every five years, also known ing the importance of selecting what they call as the Façade Inspection and Safety Program “bulletproof plants” that can survive and thrive (FISP). The co-op’s size and age have meant in harsh urban environments. They point out that its four residential buildings have had that street-level plantings face the likelihood sidewalk bridging up for half a decade while it of being picked at, dumped on, or otherwise continues to remediate structural issues un- covered by FISP, which has been “the worst friend to trees,” as An- astasio puts it. Another tree “fail” that Anastasio brings up is in an outdoor area above Seward Park’s garage that was renovated about 20 years ago after the ga- rage collapsed. “Who- ever did that landscape design,” she laments, “just thought about putting trees in planters—not whether it’s one with aesthetic and natural appeal is one of the right tree in the right place. So you have the easiest ways for a co-op or condo to add overstory trees in small cement planters. Their a popular, valuable amenity—particularly for roots go around and around and eventually smaller or older buildings that are looking for strangle themselves and die. Almost any of ways to compete with all the shiny new de- the trees that are in failing condition are those velopments. In a double-win, it can also have trees; the rest of the trees on the property are positive implications for the environment—a doing great.” Size Doesn’t Matter Since not all boards are lucky enough to don’t need much space—or money—to install have a certified plant expert among their a bird feeder or a pollinator house, for exam- membership, it is helpful to consult with pros ple. If you crave more nature, allow nature to who are used to dealing with the sometimes come to you. laborious decision-making process character- istic of this type of governance structure. QG Floral & Landscape in New York City and providers that serve boards, managers, frequently collaborates with boards and com- mittees to make use of limited outdoor areas. Please join us for the CooperatorEvents New Even the smallest spaces can be designed in a Jersey Expo at the Meadowlands in Secaucus way to maximize usability and accommodate on June 8, 2022! For more information and to different populations—a shady alcove can register, visit be designed for passive activities like read- ing or meditating; a breezeway can be paved for more active games and play; planters and demic, many of their clients are now looking The pros at QG echo colleagues in stress- violated, by people, pets, or pests. Pollution also dictates which types of plants will do well, and fac- tors like rodent control also need to be con- sidered. With the right plan and the right choices, turn- ing an under- used space into consideration that has more and more im- portance to home buyers in all markets. You Interested in meeting New Jersey landscape professionals or scores of other businesses and residents of co-ops, condos, and HOAs? www.nj-expo.com. n Darcey Gerstein is Associate Editor and a Staff Writer for CooperatorNews. “When creating a planting plan for small spaces with limited light, high winds, or other challenges, picking the right plant for the area is paramount.” — Nicholas Carnovale of all that, inspection laws change fre- quently—often in reaction to a structural tions have become one of the biggest or systemic failure in another building pains to their existence, because the codes that results in damage to life or property. are constantly changing and constantly The ultimate goal is to maximize building requiring more and more budgetary con- safety and prevent disaster. These inspections can be costly in and projects that are disruptive to anyone of themselves—and the price tag can soar whose building is undergoing this type of even higher when factoring in remedia- tion of any problems they uncover. But to contractors and engineers, because the the cost for noncompliance—whether cost of these projects can be exorbitant. from fines, penalties, legal expenses, or And many times buildings are not well one of those systemic failures just men- tioned—is far greater, and more impor- tant to avoid. Exteriors One of the more vexing inspections for spokesperson for the New York Depart- property managers and boards of direc- tors is of the building exterior walls and tions, previously known as Local Law 11 appurtenances—usually referred to as inspections, are now referred to as the Fa- the ‘façade’ or the ‘envelope.’ Since co-ops çade Inspection & Safety Program—FISP and condos tend to be large, multi-story for short—and must be performed every structures made of brick or other ma- sonry, their exteriors have many points which amounts to nearly 15,000 buildings of wear and deterioration. Their size and citywide. The resulting report must be composition also make them more sus- ceptible to the elements; their height and rior Wall Inspector (QEWI)—a New York location in densely populated areas mean State-licensed professional engineer (PE) that any structural failures can have cata- strophic consequences. Adding to this complexity, the gover- nance structure and shared financial re- sponsibility among the owners or share- holders of common interest communities changes to FISP requirements in the cur- can make the process of planning and rent Cycle 9, which started in February paying for property-wide inspections 2020. “In response to concerns about the more protracted, and the disruptions they accuracy of some of the prior reporting,” occasionally cause more problematic. In he says, “the City determined that more dense cities like New York, Boston, Chi- cago, or Jersey City (all of which have necessary. And that requires putting up façade inspection laws on the books), a scaffolding and doing drops”—which building’s proximity to its neighbors can Finkelstein explains is the process of us- mean that inspections and their safety ing cranes, hoists, and other suspension measures like sidewalk bridging and scaf- folding may necessarily encroach onto an to allow inspectors to get up close to the adjoining property—and vice versa. All bricks and assess and photograph their of this must be worked out in advance, condition, as the new code requires. “All before the scope or duration of the in- spection process is even known. New York City attorney Adam Finkel- stein of law firm Kagan Lubic Lepper Fin- kelstein & Gold has seen these difficulties firsthand. He says, “In my conversations with property managers, façade inspec- straints, as well as physical construction work. At the same time, it’s been a boon prepared for what’s discovered when the inspections take place and scope of work is ultimately determined.” According to Andrew Rudansky, a ment of Buildings (DOB), these inspec- five years on all buildings over six storeys, filed with the DOB by a Qualified Exte- or registered architect (RA)—who is pri- vately contracted by the building owner, which in the case of a co-op or condo is the board. Finkelstein explains that there were physical, hands-on inspections were equipment against the building façade BUILDING... continued from page 1 continued on page 20 NJ.COOPERATORNEWS.COM COOPERATORNEWS NEW JERSEY —SPRING 2022 19