FOREST HILLS—The Yale Terrace Neighborhood Association is saying that it is still awaiting a response from the City’s Inspectional Service Department over concerns it has raised over Bicon Dental Implants’ occupancy permits.
But a spokesperson for ISD said that an inspection of the company was conducted in June and no violations were found.
Bicon, a 501 Arborway company, has stirred controversy in the area by demolishing a 19th century house at 21 Yale Terrace for a new development. The neighborhood association had tried to stop the company from doing that and has now started a concerted effort to have the City’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD) yank Bicon’s occupancy permit. The neighbors say that Bicon operates a clinic and a lab without permits.
Bicon did not respond to a request for comment.
Liz O’Connor of the Yale Terrace Neighborhood Association said in an email that the ISD Commissioner’s Office told the group that the legal team is working on a response to the neighborhood association’s letter. That letter asked the department to revoke Bicon’s occupancy permits.
“I am aware that their spokesperson told you that they have all of the necessary permits, but we know that that is just plainly not true,” said O’Connor. “We have been unable to get a reply to our letter and have no information as to why they would have said that to you.”
When the Gazette asked ISD to comment on the neighborhood association’s position, spokesperson Lisa Timberlake said in an email that an official conducted an inspection of Bicon on June 17.
“Upon arrival the building official was given full access of the property,” said Timberlake. “In conclusion, the official did not find any violations of the zoning nor building code.”
Bicon has a history of controversial expansions and operations that have drawn neighborhood complaints, City citations and City Council hearings.
Berta Berriz, the former owner of 21 Yale Terrace, says that she was “deceived” by a buyer who claimed to be a family-minded local grandmother, into selling the historic house to the neighboring Bicon Dental Implants. Berriz did not want to sell the house to Bicon.