Another Structural Accident on Ratner’s Watch

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Just around the corner from where the parapet of Ward’s Bakery collapsed last April, another Forest City Ratner-controlled property in the Atlantic Yards footprint began falling apart yesterday, necessitating the evacuation of several tenants. At some point yesterday afternoon, the facade at 540 Vanderbilt Avenue (an 8-unit building which Ratner bought for $2 million in 2005) began “peeling off,” according a tipster. When we arrived around 5 p.m., an employee from the scaffolding company confirmed the story. A well-lubricated homeless bystander slurred, “What does it matter—they’re going to tear the f#$@ing place down anyway.” We haven’t checked, but we assume there’s a scaffolding up by now. GMAP P*Shark

By Brownstoner |