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Chumley's Building Sticking Around - For Now
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 6, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 6, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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After reports of an unstable wall and possible demolition, it looks like the Bedford Street building that houses the bar Chumley's is staying up. But the Department of Buildings must determine whether the building is secure. The owners' construction contractors were doing illegal work: Though they applied for permits, the DOB hadn't approved them yet.
The NY Times reports that the workers had been "repairing a wall at...Chumley's when an attached chimney collapsed at 1pm." Luckily, no one was hurt, but the wall is still considered unstable. The contractors were issued work violations as neighboring buildings were evacuated. Power and gas were also cut off. And neighbors expressed concerns about their buildings; one told amNew York, "It worries me because a lot of these buildings were constructed in the same way."
FDNY Division Chief John Bley tells the Post that it's unlikely the building from 1831 will collapse, but the area has been blocked off. The Red Cross set up a Disaster Relief van nearby as Office of Emergency Management and other officials inspected the scene.
Check out the Department of Buildings on 86 Bedford Street. A Curbed tipster says the owner, Margaret Streicker-Porres, has a spotty history, and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn who represents the area issued a statement saying," A number of residents and advocacy groups have raised strong concerns about Margaret Streicker-Porres' practices as a landlord at several sites in my Council District. We have encouraged tenants to contact my district office if they have any complaints regarding their living conditions."
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Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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