Queens small business and property owners will be able to engage with staff from the city’s Department of Buildings on Saturday, July 22, at the Roy Wilkins Park Recreation Center in Jamaica.
The “DOB in Your Community” events offer one- to four-family property owners and small businesses help to resolve issues, plan for construction projects and answer participants’ building-related questions. Staff from various units from the DOB will be there to guide individuals in using the agency’s public portal, DOB NOW, to potentially resolve violations, OATH summonses, and Stop Work Orders on their properties.
Members of DOB’s Small Business Unit will also be present to answer questions associated with opening a new business space, such as Zoning regulations, or questions about renovating an existing business space, such as permit applications and hiring licensed professionals.
The agency’s Community Engagement Unit holds these community events on the weekends, in locations around the boroughs that are further away from the DOB’s borough offices, which may be more convenient.
“The Department of Buildings is committed to providing efficient services to all New Yorkers in places and times that are convenient to them,” Department of Building Commissioner Jimmy Oddo said. “This event brings our agency’s resources directly to our Queens residents, and it provides an important opportunity to work collaboratively in resolving issues our small businesses and small property owners may have.”
The community event is free and open to the public at the Roy Wilkins Park Recreation Center, located at 177-01 Baisley Blvd. in Jamaica, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 22.
“Since Mayor Adams took office, the Department of Buildings has made a concerted effort to be more available to small businesses and work with them to resolve issues rather than punish them for minor infractions,” Queens Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Grech said. “We appreciate this business-friendly approach and are excited to welcome Commissioner Oddo and his team to Queens this weekend. We encourage all property owners working through buildings issues, or anyone with questions to take advantage of this opportunity to meet with DOB staff this coming Saturday.”
