Another Structural Accident on Ratner's Watch
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…
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
i meant to say “running down the *southeast* corner…” in the previous comment.
just walked by there about an hour ago and didn’t notice anything new other than a sidewalk shed has been built in front of the building.
as far as the facade peeling away, i did notice what appears to be a crack running down the northeast corner between the facade and the side wall. checking my past photos, it seems like this crack has been there since at least feb 2007, when i took this photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracy_collins/384977046/
you’ll have to look at the original size of the photo (click the “ALL SIZES” icon) to see the crack.
maybe this crack has grown, and if so, i would guess that it would have to do with the demolition of the buildings on either side.
Maybe not 20 minutes, but those are long blocks, so you’re talking at least 10 and maybe as much as 15 minutes. The point is that Ratner’s convenience is again being placed above all others’.
And if his contractors are creating the number of problems they are during minor pre-demolition, it’s not really boding well for the construction of 8 million square feet of buildings now, is it?
I believe this is yet another example of Rat-hassment.
Slightly less sarcastically than 12:47, I have to agree: it does not take 20 minutes to walk from Carlton and Pacific to Sixth Avenue, across the bridge, and up Atlantic to South Portland.
btw, I have learned that DOT is not going to create an auto detour for Carlton, because it wants drivers to find a range of routes that suit each one best. However, a posted bicycle detour may be created.
It does not take 20 minutes to walk down Vanderbilt or Sixth Ave. instead. Stop with the drama. If this guy’s relationship is so weak that having to take a few extra minutes to reach his girlfriend’s will end it, then it was doomed anyway.
I thought only brand new condo buildings fall apart and that any prewar building lasts forever.
interesting…if anyone’s nearby it would be interesting to know if a scaffolding is now up.
i took a photo of this building on 10/29, and the cornice was already gone, so the latest issue with this building really might be about the facade “peeling off”. or maybe the cornice fell off because the facade was crumbling?
see my photo here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tracy_collins/1802220177/
i’ll have a look at the building later today to see if i notice something else.