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Partially Collapsed Crane Disassembled, Removed
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 28, 2010
Modified Mar 29, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 28, 2010
Modified Mar 29, 2010
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The 250-foot tall crane that partially collapsed and ended up leaning on 80 Maiden Lane last night was righted and then taken apart this morning. No one was injured (even though some of the building's bricks fell when the crane hit it) but concerns over the crane's stability prompted the evacuation some neighboring Financial District buildings. This morning, residents and workers in 80, 83, 90 and 100 Maiden Lane as well as 2 Gold Street were allowed back (there are still some street closures) as the authorities continue to investigate.
One area resident told the Post, "We saw it inching down, it took off some of its façade. I don't know how it didn't do more damage." Another said the installation of the crane "looked wrong from the start." And one person was very lucky, telling the Daily News, "All of a sudden I heard these tremendous bangs, like thunder. I looked up and stuff was pouring down out of the sky. Big, big chunks of the side of the building. ... I jumped under an awning to save myself."
The crane was set up in a plaza across from 80 Maiden Lane yesterday morning to move the building's AC units. The AP reports, "It was unclear what it was doing at the time because it was likely workers had already gone home for the day, Department of Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri said." Well, one person who spoke to WABC 7 said, "I thought it was kind of strange. It occurred to me when I was walking by, I wondered why they had the base of the crane on this unconsolidated earth, instead of street level. So I'm really not surprised that they're having problems with it right now."
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80 Maiden Lane
crane
crane collapse
department of buildings
financial district
partially collapsed crane
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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