New York, NY – City Takes Action Against Brooklyn Architect

New York, NY – Administrative charges have been filed against Robert M. Scarano Jr., an architect who built his career during Brooklyn’s construction boom, alleging that he made false or misleading statements on applications submitted to the Buildings Department in connection with two projects in Greenpoint.

The administrative charges — which could result in the suspension or revocation of Mr. Scarano’s ability to file documents with the Buildings Department — involve documents for two Brooklyn apartment houses that Mr. Scarano filed with the Buildings Department in 2000 and 2002.

Scarano is alleged to have improperly divided a zoning lot into two smaller lots for the two new buildings, 158 Freeman Street and 1037 Manhattan Avenue, resulting in the construction of two noncompliant buildings. With the two independent zoning lots, 158 Freeman Street could not have been legally built at all as a residential building and 1037 Manhattan Avenue as designed would have been smaller by approximately 2,000 square feet.

“We will not tolerate anyone who knowingly attempts to mislead the Department with false documents,” said Robert D. LiMandri, acting commissioner of the Buildings Department. “Our Special Enforcement Team is identifying repeat offenders and building cases against them. Flouting building and zoning regulations undermines the quality of life for all New Yorkers, and we will continue to identify and hold accountable individuals who abuse the rules.”

Under a state new law, Mr. Scarano was charged with knowingly or negligently filing false or misleading documents with the Buildings Department and displaying negligence, incompetence or lack of knowledge with regard to building and zoning regulations. The law allows the buildings commissioner to exclude licensed architects from filing applications for permits if they are found to have knowingly or negligently submitted false documents.
Mr. Scarano may respond to the charges and present a defense to an administrative law judge at the Office of Administrative Tribunals and Hearings.