One dead, four injured in collapse of Ann Street parking garage

April 18, 2023 Crime

One person was killed when the parking garage at 57 Ann between Nassau and William collapsed Tuesday afternoon around 4:15p, the mayor and the FDNY announced on Twitter. Four other garage workers were injured and taken to area hospitals; one refused medical attention at the scene.

During a press conference just a couple of hours after the collapse, officials said that one worker was trapped on the upper floors and was mobile; firefighters brought him down through a neighboring building. Though injured in the collapse, no one else was trapped in the building and everyone was accounted for by 6p.

The FDNY used a robotic dog and a drone to inspect the building shortly after the collapse to avoid putting officers at risk. The dog and drone stream real-time video right to officers’ phones and the command center. While they have used the dogs before, FDNY Chief of Operations John Esposito said this was the first time the FDNY was able to use a drone to fly inside a building to gather information.

Kazimir Vilenchik, New York City’s acting buildings commissioner, said the four-story building pancaked to the cellar, crushing cars along the way. The DOB will be inspecting adjoining buildings and examining drone footage to see if they can discern the reason for the collapse. There were violations on the building dating back to 2003, but the mayor said there were no open violations. The building was built in 1957 as a parking garage.

The nearby Pace University building was evacuated since it was deemed unstable at the time.

 

6 Comments

  1. Wayne Burkey
    April 20, 2023 • 7:27 am

    The City intends to utilize ‘controlled demolition’ to bring down remainder of the structure. This sounds very risky given narrow width of Ann Street and that it is not a standalone structure.

    Reply
  2. Lorena
    April 20, 2023 • 8:05 am

    Can we verify of the 60+ violations, none we open

    Reply
  3. Broadway Mamma
    April 20, 2023 • 8:13 am

    I parked my car in this garage and knew the manager, Willis. He was such a kind man and this is a tragedy. I am angry that this happened. My family and I were in and out of the garage all weekend and to think that it crashed down two days later is maddening. There was a massive construction project around the corner, on the same block and I would bet that the constant pile driving and work compromised some of the structure of this old building.

    Reply
  4. N
    April 20, 2023 • 11:19 am

    I parked my car in this garage for over a decade. The building was actually built in 1925 but became a garage in 1957. It’s almost a century year old. Willis was such a kind man and this tragedy is incredibly sad.

    I agree with the comment from Broadway Mamma about the massive Pace construction project on the same block, on the other side which is Beekman. The constant pile-driving from that project has made owners from neighboring buildings so concerned about the foundation and structural integrity of their own buildings, that apparently “crack detectors” were placed in neighboring buildings but are not being monitored properly. This needs to be examined and brought to the front with the media. Let’s not forget how the old Tent and Trails building on Park Place pancaked in and completely collapsed due to the structural integrity being compromised from the construction of the “sliver building” next door. More accountability is necessary to say the least. Such a sad outcome.

    Reply
  5. Loren
    April 20, 2023 • 11:21 am

    I agree Broadway Mamma. I suspect there is a connection to the massive long-running construction project(s) on Spruce Street, one block over in the same mid-block location. I hope that the NYC buildings department will ensure that any buildings due for inspection near an ongoing construction project would be done without delay.

    Reply

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