« Open Thread Fire at 216 Pacific Street »

June 3, 2009

Partial Building Collapse, Evacuation at 48 North 1st Street

Yesterday Curbed reported that Kent Avenue had been shut down in response to a partial building collapse at 48 North 1st Street. Overnight we came into possession of a couple of photos from the scene (check out the other on the jump). Seems that the roof collapsed on two people in bed when workers at the seven-story development project next door at 50 North 1st Street were pouring concrete for a side wall; luckily, says Brooklyn 11211, no one was hurt. (When the collapse happened, according to Curbed, "Illegal immigrant workers took off running while Hasidic property owner hung out looking stressed.") A partial vacate order has been issued for Number 48. Number 50 has bigger problems on its hands: It's been slapped with a Stop Work Order for failing to protect the adjacent property and not sticking to filed plans. GMAP

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/10023

Comments

I can imagine how an observer might surmise that a worker is an immigrant, but how were they able to tell whether they are here legally or not?

Posted by: g man at June 3, 2009 9:36 AM

"Illegal immigrant workers took off running while Hasidic property owner hung out looking stressed."

I can't wait to see all the comments on this one!!!!!!

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 3, 2009 9:38 AM

I remember seeing them tearing down the old garage or stable or whatever it was that was there... it looked extremely dodgy.

Posted by: Heather at June 3, 2009 9:47 AM

"I can't wait to see all the comments on this one!!!!!!"

why dave? you get off on the race/class warfare on this site? i thought you were above all that.

Posted by: randolph at June 3, 2009 10:04 AM

"Illegal immigrant workers took off running while Hasidic property owner hung out looking stressed."

I can't wait to see all the comments on this one!!!!!!

I agree Dave..

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at June 3, 2009 10:09 AM

"I can imagine how an observer might surmise that a worker is an immigrant, but how were they able to tell whether they are here legally or not?"

Maybe he was wearing an illegal immigrant t-shirt.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at June 3, 2009 10:20 AM

I agree that that comment should have stayed on Curbed. I'm sure those illegal immigrant t shirts had country of origin on them, too. (sarcasm)

Plus mentioning the owner was Hasidic is irrelevant. And if my building was on fire, or falling in, I'd be stressed too, no matter if I was up to anything untoward, or not.

Not cool.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at June 3, 2009 10:38 AM

Nothing worse than meeting a guy and asking him if he's Mexican and he turns out to be Guatemalan. Might as well have asked an Englishman (chicken, etson) if he's Australian!!!!

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 3, 2009 10:43 AM

Aus / NZ is quite a common mistake.
I once was asked if I was Canadian, by an American guy in NJ. Also have been asked if I was Dutch.

Posted by: etson at June 3, 2009 10:47 AM

etson...my favorite line ever was made by one of the NZ Prime Ministers: "When someone emigrates from New Zealand to Australia, the average IQ of both countries rises."

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 3, 2009 10:52 AM

"I agree that that comment should have stayed on Curbed. I'm sure those illegal immigrant t shirts had country of origin on them, too. (sarcasm)"

See...

Not today Jon...

The What (and I'm nuts)

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at June 3, 2009 11:02 AM

My prediction; Stop Work Order will be recinded immediately and replaced with Temporary Stop Work Order so they can clean up the site and make things "safe". Developer will get an ECB fine, that according to Brian Kates of the Daily News, no one ever pays.

On the other hand the neighboring property owner has to pay for emergency repairs to his building, out of pocket, and deal with vacated tenants and loss of rental income. Legal fees... insurance problems, maybe even a DOB violation for failure to maintain his building.

I bet they were cutting corners and rushing the pour... Sounds like the wrong guys were running away from the scene of the crime.

Posted by: IMBY at June 3, 2009 11:55 AM

As someone who has his property damaged from an unscrupulous developer I can attest to the validity of IMBY's post. My building in Greenpoint was damaged when the moron developer next to me illegally dug under our building, which compromised the integrity of the foundation. Luckily we didn't receive a vacate order, but we have had to live with a myriad of other problems for the past five years. We have lawyers, engineers, the whole shebang. It's been an absolute nightmare. I can't believe how much damage and heartache a cheapskate developer can cause. There is no oversight or enforcement by the DOB, they should be ashamed by their ineptitude. I hope no one here has to go through such an ordeal.

Posted by: HalfChem at June 3, 2009 12:11 PM

"I can't believe how much damage and heartache a cheapskate developer can cause. There is no oversight or enforcement by the DOB, they should be ashamed by their ineptitude. I hope no one here has to go through such an ordeal."

Oh no guys! Plenty of Assheads cheered on "New Development" for the Retards! When all the new shinny Condos was going up there was no problems then???? The elite of this city saw a swarm of suckers to buy the new shinny turds because they was so "special"! Now you say the developers don't care???? They never did!!!!! Oh BTW Wait five years from now when your "investment" falls apart (Chinese sheetrock, shoddy construction, shitty pluming and cracking walls)!

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at June 3, 2009 12:26 PM

"Oh BTW Wait five years from now when your "investment" falls apart (Chinese sheetrock, shoddy construction, shitty pluming and cracking walls)!"

I totally agree with the What on this one.

The plumage will be especially bad. :)

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 3, 2009 1:10 PM

I completely agree with the What on this. I lived next to the Brooklyn Law Dormitory site- they collapsed a building and created a nightmare for all of the surrounding buildings because of their arrogant carelessness. And these were no small time developers- this was Urban Foundation, Brooklyn Law School and Frank gehry.

Posted by: bxgrl at June 3, 2009 1:13 PM

Hey What...Where their money is going...

http://www.strictlynascar.com/races/usg_sheetrock_400.html

Posted by: IMBY at June 3, 2009 1:21 PM

USG Sheetrock is US Gypsum Corp who, I believe, invented sheetrock and makes a quality product. They have been innovators with mold resistant sheetrock and other types.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 3, 2009 1:30 PM

Apparently a lotta corruption in NYC construction/development/real estate/politics, from what I read, no????????

Posted by: mopar at June 3, 2009 1:56 PM

Return of The What, why are you so damn rude? I bought my condo 5+ years ago in a renovated building originally built in 1900. It was a bueatiful old building. A developer bought the building next to me and proceded to demolish (in an extremely unsafe manner) and begin in illegal underpinning process without prior consent or knowledge from the people he was digging under. You should get your facts right before making such assinine comments.

Posted by: HalfChem at June 3, 2009 3:08 PM

HalfChem, want to post your story on Imby.Blogspot.com? Misery loves company. Imby@nyc.rr.com

Posted by: IMBY at June 3, 2009 4:34 PM

« Open Thread Fire at 216 Pacific Street »

June 3, 2009

Partial Building Collapse, Evacuation at 48 North 1st Street

Trackback Pings

Comments

Post a comment

Latest Restaurant Additions