Tenant says her home’s walls are falling apart due to next-door construction

A Flatbush woman says she feels like her home is falling apart bit by bit due to construction happening next to her home.

News 12 Staff

Dec 14, 2022, 10:56 PM

Updated 729 days ago

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A Flatbush woman says she feels like her home is falling apart bit by bit due to construction happening next to her home.  
Dr. Grace Hackett Faroul has lived in the apartment at 684 Hawthorne St. for 30 years and says she never had issues with her housing until the building next door began construction.  
In February, 680 Hawthorne St. started construction that left several damages in the apartment. Since then, it’s only gotten worse.  
“I do not want my home to depreciate, and I don’t want to be in any danger,” said Faroul. 
Faroul says her walls continue to crack in her bedroom and other parts of her apartment as the construction continues.  
In March, the Department of Buildings said it did not have access to 680 Hawthorne St. However, officials with the agency said they issued a stop work order shortly after getting access to the building that same month.  
Months later, the work order was lifted. The DOB says it paid the home a visit just days ago. It said a full stop work order was issued on Dec. 6 after an inspection revealed that the building didn’t have valid construction permits – something Faroul hopes will make a difference.  
The DOB says the contractor was issued a violation for failure to safeguard the site and could face a penalty of up to $25,000.