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Live Updates: Midtown Manhattan Building Evacuated as Officials Warn of Collapse
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- A steel beam on the 21st floor of a building undergoing conversion was reported compromised, with two support columns buckling and several upper floors sagging, prompting evacuation of construction workers and nearby buildings.
- No injuries were reported, but fitters were evacuated after beams began bending, with reports describing the north side of the building as "crumbling" and I-beams bending significantly.
- Metro Loft, the developer, acknowledged the structural issues and is collaborating with the Department of Buildings to assess the situation fully.
- The project involves converting two 1970s office buildings into residential spaces, adding 19 stories to one tower and redesigning the other, with plans for 1,602 apartments including 400 affordable units.
- This conversion aims to be the largest of its kind in NYC, transforming Midtown office buildings into housing to address the city's shortage and revitalize the area into a vibrant neighborhood with amenities like a rooftop pool and retail shops.
