NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday appointed senior adviser Eric Ulrich as the new commissioner of the Department of Buildings, with DOB's Brooklyn Borough Commissioner Kazimir Vilenchik picked as the first deputy commissioner.
According to the mayor's office, Ulrich and Vilenchik will serve as the DOB's leadership team, enforcing the city's construction laws and zoning resolution, as well as the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law, on construction sites and in the city's over 1.1 million buildings.
"[They] are the right leadership team at the right time for the Department of Buildings," Adams said. "Our city and our economy cannot recover from the COVID-19 pandemic without a strong construction industry, and this team will deliver while prioritizing worker safety and customer service.
Ulrich, a former Republican City Council member for District 32 in Queens, served on the Committee on Housing and Buildings and coordinated a massive relief effort to help area residents rebuild their homes and businesses after Superstorm Sandy, as well as additional responses following the 2012 hurricane. Ulrich was appointed as a senior mayoral advisor in January.
"From day one, Mayor Adams has made ‘Get Stuff Done’ the motto of his administration, and this is the spirit I bring to the Department of Buildings," Ulrich said. "I will be laser-focused on raising safety standards on job sites, delivering the customer service our city deserves, and making our building industry the most sustainable in the nation."
Vilenchik first joined the DOB in 2008 as deputy borough commissioner in Staten Island and served in Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn before becoming borough commissioner of Brooklyn in 2018. He worked with a wide range of stakeholders to improve accountability and efficiency for construction processes in Brooklyn, while leading the borough office through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ahead of his public service, he worked as an inspector, structural engineer and project manager for more than 20 years in the private sector.
"My focus will be on improving DOB performance, facilitating development, maintaining existing buildings, and ensuring construction safety," Vilenchik said. "It is my overall goal to remove impediments to efficient operations, so that DOB can be an integral part of the New York City business development process."
Ulrich takes over for Acting Commissioner Gus Sirakis, who succeeded former Mayor Bill de Blasio's appointee Melanie La Rocca in March. La Rocca has since become the city's Chief Efficiency Officer.
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