By Charles F. Otey

 

One of the most powerful agencies in the city of New York — a place where million, and even billion-dollar development schemes must go to succeed — and sometimes die — will be the Jan. 31 topic of a most informative presentation of the Brooklyn Bar Association, BBA.
 

Which agency is that? Well, of course, it’s the New York City Department of Buildings, often criticized for its red tape. To some people, it seems a bottomless bureaucracy, often appearing to be the mindless enemy of those who would build or improve their properties.
 

Is it really that bad?  That’s one of the questions that experts will answer on Jan. 31 for the benefit of the Brooklyn Bar Association when it holds a popular CLE-accredited seminar that night, at 123 Remsen Street, starting at 6 p.m.
 

The program is sponsored by the BBA and the BBA Volunteer Lawyers Project, of which Jeannie Costello is the executive director.  The BBA president this year is Ethan Gerber.

Mark J. Caruso, chair of the BBA Real Property Section, will be in charge, with the main presentation to be given by Vincent J. Gallo. 
 

Those who want to practice in this area will be glad to learn the “nuts and bolts” for  everyday topics such as certificates of occupancy and temporary certificates of occupancy; inspections and search warrants; pools, decks, porches and other structure issues; Environmental Control Board violations; sidewalk violations; landmarks issues; problems encountered in real estate transactions; and discussion of potential solutions”.
 

For further information, send an email to [email protected].