Buildings chief quits

By JOANNE WASSERMAN and MICHAEL R. BLOOD

August 23, 2000 Web posted at: 10:21 AM EDT (1421 GMT)

NEW YORK (The New York Daily News) -- The acting head of the city Buildings Department abruptly resigned yesterday, hours after he was summoned to City Hall to explain a Daily News report that crumbling masonry at dozens of buildings could threaten pedestrians from above.

Richard Visconti submitted a two-sentence letter notifying Mayor Giuliani he would step down immediately, delivering his walking papers shortly after a closed-door meeting with mayoral aides. When the meeting, which Giuliani did not attend, ended, Visconti announced he would pull out, sources said.

An award-winning architect, Visconti rose through the ranks after joining the department during the Dinkins administration, and was appointed acting commissioner in May 1999. But sources said he never became part of Giuliani's trusted circle, had recently been told he would not be promoted to the agency's top job and was wearying of friction with City Hall.

"The [Daily News] story was the trigger," said one insider. "His feeling was that if he doesn't have the mayor's confidence, he couldn't effectively do his job."

Asked for comment, mayoral spokeswoman Sunny Mindel said only, "We accepted his resignation."

The News reported yesterday that the facades of 68 buildings had been listed by the department as unsafe and needed immediate repair. Yet, at many, including 13 buildings owned by the city, repairs have been delayed indefinitely.

In most cases, building owners have erected sheds or scaffolding to shield pedestrians from falling masonry, but 12 buildings have no exterior protection. Experts also said sheds would do little to stop a large block of stone or concrete from crashing to the sidewalk.

Talking earlier in the day with reporters, Giuliani gave no indication that he knew of Visconti's impending exit.

"The Buildings Department tries to provide as much safety as you possibly can," he said.

Visconti was not forced out, mayoral aides insisted, but sources described an uneasy relationship in which City Hall was routinely unhappy with the agency. Some called the department an administrative backwater where many records have not been computerized.

"When you look at changes at the agencies, this is one that sorely needs more of a jump-start in modernization. This is one that needs reinventing," said one senior aide. "It's not us against him."

Despite a low profile, Visconti's supporters said he labored to pull the department into the computer age and was working to allow building plans to be filed through the Internet. He also regularly pushed for more building inspectors.

He informed his senior staff at a private meeting that left aides in tears.

Visconti, who lives in Queens, had been a partner in the firm of Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects before coming to City Hall, where he worked on projects including the South Street Seaport.

With the mayor edging closer to his final year in office, Visconti's departure leaves another vacancy in Giuliani's high command. The mayor is looking to fill top jobs at several agencies, including the Transportation and Housing departments.

City's buildings crumbling

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