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DOB Investigates Williamsburg Building Collapse
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 30, 2010
Modified Mar 30, 2010
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 30, 2010
Modified Mar 30, 2010
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Photograph by R. Ghoche
Yesterday afternoon, a three-story building at 34 Conselyea Street in Williamsburg collapsed, injuring four people—three construction workers and a passer-by who went to the scene to help. A neighbor, Jeff Wilser, said of one worker who was trapped for 20 minutes, "He was in the there up to his neck. I saw his head sticking out of the rubble. We tried to dig him out until [paramedics] showed up."
The Daily News reports that the worker was taken to Bellevue Hospital in critical but stable condition; the others had minor injuries. Wilser also remarked that he heard a boom, “We thought it was a planned demolition." But it wasn't: The workers, from China Perfect Construction, were apparently adding a fourth floor and Department of Buildings commissioner Robert LiMandri told the NY Times, "Structural members must have been compromised for the structure to collapse in this manner.”
The DOB said they would speak to China Perfect as well as the site's engineer, "Contractors must be held responsible for their work... Violations with monetary penalties will be issued."
Tagged
brooklyn
building collapse
collapse
Conselyea Street
department of buildings
williamsburg
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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