A Tale of 2 Buildings in Brooklyn
One block apart, permits issued 8 days apart. One was built by union crews, the other is being worked on by non-unions. Here's a comparison.
August, 2017
33 Bond St. is Open for Business
TFC establishes 33 Bond GC, LLC as the general contractor and commits to union labor.
GFI Capital hires Parkside Construction Builders and RNC Industries, a general contractor and cement contractor who favor non-union labor.
Plans to build a 600,000 square-foot residential high-rise are approved by the Department of Building
Work on the 25-story residential high-rise in downtown Brooklyn begins.
The construction of the nearly 150,000 square-foot hotel in downtown Brooklyn is approved.
Construction begins on the planned
13-story hotel.
October 11, 2016
Facade Work Begins
With the main base section of the structure complete, siding work starts.
October 11, 2016
Worker Killed
Paul Kennedy, 43, is killed when a machine part dislodges and hits him. The worksite had been cited for safety violations. The contractor is fined $12,000.
November, 2016
Facade Work Continues
The building's aesthetic vision starts to come into view.
November, 2016
Work Stoppage In Place
The New York City Department of Building (DOB) issues a six-plus-week work stoppage to investigate and correct the cause of Mr. Kennedy's death.
Developer: GFI Capital
Developer: TF Cornerstone
July 17, 2014
Building Permit Issued
July 9, 2014
Building Permit Issued
April 9, 2015
Ground is Broken
January 14, 2016
Ground is Broken
28 months from its start, the 25-story, 600,000 square-foot, 714-dwelling high-rise, with luxury and affordable housing, is completed.
The Manhattan District Attorney indicts Parkside for wage theft of $1.7M.
May 16, 2018
Parkside Indicted for Wage Theft and Fraud
Fall 2019, Not Done Yet
The Ace 13-story Hotel – render at left – is rumored to be complete in Fall 2019, 2 years after the union-built tower opened across the street.
March 22, 2016
RNC Industries Sued for Wage Theft
It's the latest suit filed against the troubled contractor which has already pleaded guilty to tax evasion, safety violations, wage theft and fraud.
downtownbrooklyn.com
newyorkyimby.com
cityrealty.com
newyorkyimby.com
Summary:
33 Bond: On the union side of the street, the Boerum Hill neighborhood has had a well-built, 600,000 square-foot high rise with luxury and affordable housing open for 2 years, enhancing the living standards and commerce of the area.
61 Bond: On the non-union side, there have been allegations of negligence and violations resulting in work stoppages. One employee has been killed. The hotel is unfinished, depriving Boerum Hill of business benefits on a prime commercial street.
Meanwhile, There's a Meme
Just one of the several Union/Non-Union memes shared on Facebook by New Yorkers watching this story unfold.
