Steel Beams and Stairs Related to Catwalk Replacement

The DRA granted landlord's application for catwalk replacement but disallowed any increase for related costs associated with architectural fees, steel beam replacement, steel stairway replacement, and concrete walkway repaving. Landlord appealed and won, in part. The DRA properly excluded architect fees since the replacement of two catwalks and related steel beam replacement was a relatively commonplace installation. The cost of the concrete work also was properly excluded because landlord didn't show that repaving the ground-level walkway was needed in order to install the catwalks or that there was a direct link between the repaving work and the catwalk installation. But the steel beam and stairway replacement costs should be included because the beams provided structural support for the catwalks and the stairs were rebuilt as an integral part of the catwalks.

106 Pinehurst Avenue: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. YC430035RO (6/5/14) [2-pg. doc.]