I wonder if this guy ever pulls construction permits for all this rehab? When he needs more room, he just reached into the neighboring buildings.

I went here for dinner a few weeks ago and was seated in that lounge area. It was a great experience -- the vibe is very cool, the service was great and we really enjoyed the food & drinks.

If you ever want to know whether someone has secured necessary building permits or want to report someone who hasn't, it's just a click away.

uh oh, that site is down. city govt...

Ever wonder who your neighbors really are? Here's a cool site that lists the owners of every property on your block.
http://sdatcert3.resiusa.org/rp_rewrite/

Vaccarro's has the market corned on a expensive desert place. and they serve alcohol. so, it might not look like a bar, but it pretty much is.

Good idea, great location. Wonder if this will be the next hot spot for the uber trendy in Bmore? Probably...

Wonder if this will be the next hot spot for the uber trendy in Bmore?

More likely for the lumpen-trendy of UBalt.

That City permits site is brilliant!!!

I lived in Locust Point, when it was just hitting the radar, a friend and i used to walk our dogs, building permits list and large chalk in hand, and tag the houses which were being renovated without permits. The permits usually appeared soon after.

There were just so many horror stories of renovations without permits, that we needed to fight back.

Yeah, anon.e.mouse, I've used the city permit website to catch a few unethical, permitless developers myself. Feels good, doesn't it? Last thing one needs in a row house is unpermitted work that might take down or weaken your house.

Many times I have resented people for one reason or another. After some deep thought, I realize that any resentment is due to my own problems. Focusing on your own life and what you're doing on a daily basis is far more fruitful than spending your time worrying about others are doing.

Mark J, I'm guessing you may have never lived in a row house next to someone who was renovating without a permit!

Or even with a permit.

Of course there are exceptions- if someone is doing work to a house adjoining your own, you have your own best interest to keep in mind. I do however have far better things to do with my time than to play permit police. Inspectors are out and around all day long - they keep an eye out for unpermitted work going on. I don't get pleasure out of reporting or getting others in trouble unless it is something truly warranted- I believe in bad karma!

Inspectors are out and around all day long - they keep an eye out for unpermitted work going on.

I think you way overestimate the size of the inspector corps. They're not going to notice everything. Alerts from neighbors can be very helpful.

We all live in this city together. When someone breaks the law, it affects all of us. That is what "population density" means, on a practical level.

That sub-standard reno a few doors down might collapse, or it might just lower property values. Maybe it'll have cracks where rats live. Or sub-standard electrical work will cause a fire, which might take out a few houses. Ditto for sub-standard plumbing.

It isn't rocket science. What we do affects other people.

"It isn't rocket science. What we do affects other people" - Lissa - words to live by! Especially when driving on the beltway!

It isn't rocket science. What we do affects other people.

Sort of surprising what needs to be explained sometimes, isn't it?

Inspectors are out and around all day long - they keep an eye out for unpermitted work going on.

What kind of candy-colored bongatorium are you living in? There are at least three things wrong with that statement. Wake up, the Smurfs aren't real.

Permits and inspections are a matter of public safety. Stop using "karma" unless you know what the word means. When your neighbor uses unlicensed contracters, possibly unskilled illegal aliens, to do reonovations he exposes you and any tenants or residents to serious harm. A lot of renovation can uncover old lead paint surfaces. Do you want a tenant's or resident's children exposed to that? Shoddy electric work? What's that smell? Why that's barbecued long pig. Ooops, my roof is on fire now. (my roof, my roof, my roof is on fire...) I hope my neighbors aren't the nosy type who might call the fire department before I wake up ... argh, too late.

Poor Slakey Whiskers, he was a hell of a rodeo clown.

Propinquity creates responsibility.
-- Umberto Swarm

I don't know why that random Chinese character keeps showing up, but I decided to leave it since it means "catching up with". Weird.

I'm not saying obvious things should be overlooked, but I also don't snoop around the neighborhood trying to see what people are doing in their homes.

A city inspector is your proxy. If it's okay for a stranger to poke around your neighborhood, why is it wrong for you? It's morally equivalent. If you are for the death penalty, you should be ready to murder prisoners personally rather than passing it off to a civil servant. It's really quite simple. If renovations are being done, there needs to be a permit posted on the property façade No snooping needed. These rules are meant to protect the workers as well from lead and asbestos exposure.

Cognitive dissonance isn't just a river in Egypt.