Four-Story Building on Myrtle Collapses
The four-story, white-brick building at 493 Myrtle Avenue that housed the Vesper bar on the ground floor and apartments on the upper floors collapsed to the ground yesterday afternoon at around 2 p.m. According to The Local, which has a detailed account of the incident, 14 people lived in the building but none of them…
The four-story, white-brick building at 493 Myrtle Avenue that housed the Vesper bar on the ground floor and apartments on the upper floors collapsed to the ground yesterday afternoon at around 2 p.m. According to The Local, which has a detailed account of the incident, 14 people lived in the building but none of them were seriously injured; a girl who lived next door had to be rescued by the Fire Department. The Times also reported that the Department of Buildings issued vacate orders for six buildings on the block while officials evaluate their structural condition. An official cause has not been determined, but the building had received a violation in May for a large visible crack in its eastern wall; the owner blames facade work at the building next door. In an interview on Clinton Hill Blog, an eyewitness describes the collapse as “kinda gradual” and says that the Fire Department was already on hand before the entire building was reduced to rubble. There’s a great photo set here. Update: We’ve posted a photo of the building pre-collapse in this post. Another Update: Tish James’ blog is trying to raise money for a girl who lived at 491 Myrtle and now needs clothes for her graduation on Thursday.
Building Collapse on Myrtle [NYT/Local] GMAP
4-Story Brooklyn Building Under Repair Collapses [NY Times]
Apartment Building Crashes Down [NY Post]
Building Collapse in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn, Injures 4 [NY Daily News]
Eyewitness Account of the Collapse [Clinton Hill Blog]
Photo by Geralyn Shukwit
he has employees, rob.
about the bar vesper that was on the ground level:
“It had a nice jukebox and lately was patronized largely by youngish hipsters including Pratt students.”
hmmmmm. dirty hipster, care to clarify?
randolph thanks for telling me what’s on the (I literally just couldn’t even remember the name of it, seriously), I never read it so I wouldn’t know.
um why would someone want to work 7 days a week randi? do you know how unhealthy that is?
*rob*
Whilst getting juice from the fridge this morning I saw the newscopter hovering…never a good sign.
I saw footage of the landlord being interviewed, couldn’t make a call on how I felt. Cracks, vertical cracks, though, my God, those poor people.
Mr. B is a blognalist.
i mean look at their posting for this- timely updates, youtube footage imbedded….wtf? you are getting beaten here mr b.
mr b why are you letting the local steal your thunder? you should be covering these stories if they happen on the weekend too!!! are you just a blogger or are you a journalist?
i saw this all over the news and they kept trying to get the owner of the building to answer questions. the landlord seemed mad shady. great that no one was seriously hurt and my heart goes out to the families who lived there who are now homeless because of landlord greed and incompetent safety precautions of the department of buildings.
*rob*