Nearly 100-year-old building likely to cause fatal garage collapse in New York City, many vehicles on roof
Preliminary findings after a New York City parking garage collapsed Tuesday suggest too many vehicles on the roof contributed to the fatal structural failure because the building is nearly 100 years old.
A garage worker was killed and five other workers were injured when the Ann Street building in lower Manhattan collapsed shortly after 4 p.m., the city’s fire department said.
According to the New York City Fire Department’s chief of safety, a preliminary investigation found that too much weight on the roof and the age of the building contributed to the severity of the collapse.
Videos and pictures posted on social media showed the roof of the building collapsing, with several SUVs and vehicles crashing into the floor below.
The building was originally constructed in 1925 with a certification of occupancy dated January 1926, according to city records.
Another certification was issued in 1957 allowing “no more than five” motor vehicles on the basement and first three stories. It specified that the roof could only contain “passenger-car type” vehicles.
City officials pledged Tuesday that the investigation into the collapse would be thorough. A spokeswoman for the Department of Buildings told NBC News on Wednesday that the investigation is ongoing, but the office expects to have an update to the public soon.
A spokeswoman for the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday they are investigating the building collapse.
There were open breaches on the building, records show, including one considered dangerous since November 2003. The violation stated that the building had “cracks in the first floor roof slab” as well as “rear cracks with defective concrete.”
A hearing was set for the violation in 2004 but according to records, the issue was not resolved.
The department granted a work permit for the building in 2019 for electrical work to handle the “general wiring” required for car charging equipment.
The officials have not identified the laborer killed in the accident. garage owner, Little Man Parkingdid not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
Enterprise Ann Parking, a tenant of the garage, thanked the first responders, and is cooperating fully with the investigation.
“This is a tragic incident. We are devastated at the loss of one of our longtime employees and our thoughts are with his family and those injured in the accident,” Enterprise N Parking said in a statement.
It added, “We thank all first responders who quickly attended to those who were affected and applaud their courageous work.”
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