jakubsosnowski

In April 2023, a parking garage on Ann Street collapsed, killing one person and injuring several others. The incident accelerated a reform that was already in motion known as Local Law 126. What began in 2022 as a measured inspection requirement has since evolved into a comprehensive reevaluation of the city’s aging parking infrastructure. Vigilance […]

Steel makes New York possible. From the hidden angles inside a brownstone lintel to the reinforcing bars beneath concrete decks, it holds the city together and gives it shape. Yet steel’s great strength comes with one weakness: it rusts. Once corrosion begins, it rarely stops on its own. And when owners treat rust as a

Few building features are as overlooked or predisposed to exposure as parapets. They’re the low walls capping roofs, the quiet boundary between structure and skyline. For decades, they’ve existed in a gray zone of compliance: visible yet rarely inspected, integral yet often forgotten. That’s changing. Local Law 126 has made annual parapet inspections a standing

Crisis on the Ledge.  It didn’t make the news, but it could have. A couple of months back, a balcony in Brooklyn nearly collapsed after the concrete slab separated from its cantilever beam. The only thing holding it up was a handful of rusted rebar and more than a hefty dose of luck. It was

A building’s envelope is its outer shell that combines materials and assemblies that separate interior space from the elements. In New York City, where wind, moisture, and temperature swings are constant, the envelope’s performance defines a property’s comfort, efficiency, and long-term value. Understanding how the envelope works and where it tends to fail is essential

One Little-Known Regulation Shaking Up Building Maintenance Top to Bottom Not every major policy arrives with headlines. A local law aimed at enhancing building-safety standards passed quietly in 2022 without notice. Known as LL126, the regulation is giving new form, and implications, to how New York’s buildings are maintained.Simple as LL126’s preventive intent may be,

Maintaining a building’s exterior in New York isn’t just about keeping up appearances. For owners of brownstones, co-ops, and mid-rise commercial properties, it’s a balancing act between protecting value, meeting strict city codes, and staying ahead of spiraling costs when buildings need work. Exterior work done correctly safeguards both the building and the people who

If you own or manage a building in New York City, façade safety isn’t just another line on the maintenance plan. It’s a legal and civic responsibility that keeps residents, pedestrians, and property safe.   The Façade Inspection & Safety Program (FISP), often called Local Law 11,  was created to make sure every exterior wall

In New York City, construction costs are at new unprecedented levels, and they got there quick. We saw seemingly weekly increases during covid and since that have not stopped. It’s a perfect storm of antiquated labor laws, personal injury scams, and soaring insurance premiums are hammering the industry, and owners are left to pick up

Apartment renovations are exciting projects that will transform your living space into your home. Unfortunately, it is not as fun as buying your apartment. Anyone who has been involved in a renovation will tell you, the path can be bumpy and expensive. Co-op and condo buildings in New York have unique challenges, these stem from