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Gas Leak Complaints Spike In East Village Post-Explosion
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Apr 3, 2015
Modified Apr 3, 2015
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By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Apr 3, 2015
Modified Apr 3, 2015
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Gas leak complaints in Manhattan have spiked since last week and more and more New Yorkers have been reporting potentially illegal gas hookups in the aftermath of last Thursday's gas explosion in the East Village.
The Post reports that Con Ed received 1,787 calls reporting suspected gas leaks in Manhattan this week, up from 1,099 calls the week prior. But while that increase is not surprising—Con Ed saw a spike in complaints after the tragic gas explosion that took down an East Harlem building last year—the utility company is also reportedly receiving complaints about illegally rigged gas hookups similar to the one inspectors believe caused last week's explosion. (A Con Ed spokesperson did not immediately respond to our request for comment on the complaints.)
311 records show 33 complaints of shady gas hookups since March 26th, an 85 percent increase from the week prior. NBC News reports that the complaints have yielded at least two violations. 32 St. Marks Place received a violation after it was discovered that “new gas piping ran to [a] pizzeria from [the] gas meter without DOB permits."
And at 22 Spring Street, a tenant reported that there were "gas lines running to all apartments and I don’t see any gas meters," according to a Stop Work Order posted on the DOB's website. A manager told reporters that "there has been no 'gas tapping' in the building during the current ownership," though the DOB issued the building two plumbing violations on March 27th.
As we reported earlier this week, 128 Second Avenue has had its gas service shut off entirely after Con Edison inspectors found shady gas piping in the building's cellar. An attorney for the building's owner, Icon Realty, alleges the piping was installed by the owner of the Stage Restaurant, located at the address. We have not been able to reach restaurant owner, Roman Diakun, though Con Edison has confirmed that the restaurant is a gas customer.
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Rebecca Fishbein
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