Building Pools In The City, With Manhattan Pool Builder – Bob Blanda

This article details the unique challenges and logistical complexities faced by Manhattan pool builder Bob Blanda of Mill Bergen Pools. Blanda, who has over three decades of experience in the industry, started his career in Brooklyn and later established Mill Bergen Pool Center in Manhattan after earning a degree in business management. He holds multiple certifications, including Certified Building Professional (CBP), Certified Service Professional (CSP), and Certified Pool Operator (CPO), and serves as president of the Northeast Spa and Pool Association (NESPA) and on the board of directors for the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. These credentials underscore his expertise in the specialized field of urban pool construction. Building pools in Manhattan presents significant logistical hurdles, primarily due to the city's severe traffic congestion and parking limitations. Blanda highlights the difficulty of staging jobs, often requiring an extra person to manage vehicle parking, which can be scarce or involve circling blocks for an open spot. The article notes that Manhattan's traffic is ranked as the worst in the United States, with drivers experiencing an average of 102 hours of delays annually, adding substantial complexity to project timelines and transportation of materials and personnel. Delivering concrete, for instance, requires securing multiple parking spots, a task often accomplished by coordinating with the New York City Sanitation Department's alternate side parking schedule, limiting concrete pours to specific days of the week. This elaborate planning avoids the lengthy process of obtaining permits to shut down streets. The demanding urban environment also impacts the daily work schedule for pool construction crews. Despite early starts and late finishes, Blanda estimates that actual on-site work time is often limited to about six hours due to travel and logistical delays. The introduction of congestion pricing, potentially charging $30-$40 per vehicle per day, is expected to add another layer of expense and complexity to operations, on top of existing costs like gas and tolls. Furthermore, building in New York City involves more stringent regulations and safety requirements compared to other areas, including mandatory OSHA-30 certification, hard hats, and proper gear for all workers. Security measures on some high-end residential projects can be exceptionally strict, involving sign-ins, safety meetings, and even advanced biometric scans for access, further extending non-construction time. Another challenge involves coordinating with multiple trades on job sites, particularly in ongoing home or building construction, where competition for shared resources like elevators and workspace is common. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced additional difficulties, such as implementing new safety protocols like social distancing in vehicles and mandatory face masks, although the pool industry was deemed essential, allowing work to continue. Blanda recounts the initial fear during the pandemic's outset but proudly states that Mill Bergen Pools adapted and has thrived, maintaining a busy schedule. Mill Bergen Pools frequently works on high-end projects for Manhattan's affluent clientele, often collaborating directly with architectural firms rather than individual homeowners. Blanda's role often extends to consulting and quarterbacking the pool phase of a project. A case study presented in the article involves a luxury pool built in the basement of a brownstone, demonstrating extreme structural engineering challenges. This project required underpinning an entire shared foundation and extensive negotiations with a neighbor, who received a significant financial settlement for granting permission. The pool design evolved from a small plunge pool to a 12x20-foot custom luxury pool, featuring amenities like glass tile, an in-floor cleaning system, a SwimStream, LED lighting, a motorized cover, and ozone UV sanitizing equipment. Blanda's firm's proximity to Manhattan also gives it a competitive edge in providing ongoing pool service, as many companies are deterred by the travel and logistical difficulties of operating in the city. #ManhattanPoolBuilder #PoolConstruction #UrbanPlanning #LogisticalChallenges #NewYorkCity #MillBergenPools #LuxuryPools #BobBlanda #PoolIndustry #ManhattanPoolBuilder #PoolConstruction #UrbanPlanning #LogisticalChallenges #NewYorkCity #MillBergenPools #LuxuryPools #BobBlanda #PoolIndustry