Call it a sign of change: From now on, all Philadelphia
construction and demolition sites must have large signs alerting the public to
the work in progress and listing numbers to call to report a dangerous site.
For a comprehensive post by Gregory Management & Consulting
Services on the new construction site signage regulations in Philadelphia by, go here…
Mayor Nutter and Carlton Williams, commissioner of the
Department of Licenses and Inspections, held a news conference Thursday to
announce enforcement of the sign rule passed by City Council last summer after
the fatal Market Street building collapse.
The requirement took effect Thursday, Nutter said.
The city "has been actively and aggressively engaged in
an ongoing process to evaluate our regulations," Nutter said, "in an
effort to do better and to do our best, all to ensure another tragedy doesn't
occur."
The sign requirement was part of a number of bills that City
Council passed after the June 2013 building collapse at 22d and Market Streets
that killed six people and injured 14.
A contentious issue in the resulting investigations has been
whether there was enough advance warning of demolition work that triggered the
fatal collapse of a four-story brick wall onto the one-story Salvation Army
thrift shop next door.
At sites of new construction, or demolition, of any building
more than three stories high, owners or developers must put up a 3-by-5-foot
sign - at their own expense - at least 24 hours before starting the work. The
sign must include the address, owner, contractor, and work completion date, and
has to list 311 and 911 as numbers to call to report dangerous conditions.
Projects of fewer than three stories have to post similar
information on bright-yellow signs just larger than a legal-size letter and
provided by L&I.
Sites caught without a sign may be fined $50 per day.
City Councilman Jim Kenney, who cosponsored the bills, said
Thursday he was glad Nutter was implementing the legislation. But Kenney, who
has hinted at a mayoral run next year, contended the administration is still
not doing enough.
"I complain every day to L&I and [the Department
of] Streets" about hazards, he said, mentioning places in Old City where
sidewalks are blocked.
The newly required signs will make it easier for others to
complain, too.
Source: Philly.com
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