Withstanding Scrape-Offs on Your Block

A resident offers tips from the trenches

By Peg Meagher

How I wish I had read the April 14, 2013, New York Times article “Thy Neighbor’s Renovation” prior to my experience with two simultaneous scrape-offs on my Park Hill block this past year.
In the article, Susan Stellin suggests five action items to consider the moment you learn that a renovation is planned in close proximity to your living space. The common theme of the piece was communication, communication, communication.
• Talk with your neighbors.
• Be involved from the get-go.
• Get a written agreement.
• Do a preconstruction survey.
• Address problems early.
Everyone knows that construction is a stressful business for everyone involved. There is even a term for it: construction fatigue. All three parties – contractors, existing residents and newcomers – deal with stresses of all kinds.
Some of the elements that lend to construction fatigue are: noises of all varieties – demolition, excavation, vehicle, high-pitched drilling  and pounding, to name a few; environmental hazards like asbestos and air pollution; property value impacts like lot configuration changes and changes to hardscape; lack of street parking, sidewalk closures and dumpsters; 16 hour workdays; construction delays; the temporary eyesore that is a construction site; not to mention personal issues that arise, in some cases as serious as stress disorders.
Unfortunately, I had no clue about how to respond to proposed building sites near to me and there was little communication on the part of the new residents nor the builders to connect with me or my neighbors. Building plans were approved without residents’ input.
After a 14-month experience of two simultaneous scrape-offs on my block, I have come up with a list of suggestions for newcomers, current residents and contractors with the goal of identifying opportunities to promote community during new construction in an established neighborhood.

TIPS FOR NEWCOMERS:
• Prior to starting your project contact the neighbors.
• Share your project with the neighbors.
• Keep the surrounding neighbors updated on time lines and when excessive noise/fumes will be generated.
• Be clear with your intentions.
• Know neighborhood zoning codes.
• Check in weekly with close neighbors – acknowledge they are dealing with noise, dust, and inconvenience.

TIPS FOR RESIDENTS:
• Be patient.
• Know there is a beginning, middle and end to the project.
• Reach out and introduce yourselves to the new owners.
• Speak up for yourself in as gentle a way as possible (e.g. parking allowances).
• Ask directly for updates, proposed schedules and timelines.
• Work to be reasonable.
• Share support when possible.
TIPS FOR CONTRACTORS:
• Be courteous to the neighbors.
• Get to know the neighbors close to your work site.
• Respect the needs of the neighbors (e.g. those who require disabled parking).
• Don’t block driveways.
• Be mindful of the impact of music, loud yelling and construction noise.
• Follow city ordinance rules for working hours.
Park Hill is a growing, changing, gentrifying and vital community. Change is a movement forward only when we consider all who live in our community. New construction in Park Hill will build community along with the structure only when and if we each make an effort to consider and be empathetic to one another.
Peg is looking for community participation in a group she is forming called the Construction Crew, whose aim is to promote the principles outlined in this article. She can be reached at 303-321-3572 or artbypeg@earthlink.net.