politics
New York City Fire Department Evacuates Midtown Construction Site After Partial Collapse
Firefighters responded Tuesday to a high-rise under construction at 235 East 42nd Street after two columns buckled on the 21st floor. Officials evacuated the building and several neighboring structures, including a school with about 400 students. No injuries have been reported.
Jul 7, 11:55 AM·1m read1 source
Washington ExaminerAudio version
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The New York City Fire Department evacuated a high-rise building under construction at 235 East 42nd Street on Tuesday after two columns buckled on the 21st floor. Officials described the response as a major technical rescue operation at the roughly 36-story structure. More than 100 fire and EMS personnel were dispatched after construction workers reported cracks inside the building.
One of the evacuated buildings houses a school with approximately 400 students; officials said everyone was accounted for. East 42nd Street remains closed between Second and Third Avenues while the city’s Department of Buildings conducts an inspection.
The site previously housed Pfizer’s headquarters before developers purchased the property for conversion into multifamily housing. The project is described as the largest office-to-residential conversion in New York City history and is planned to contain 1,600 apartments, including more than 400 affordable units.
Companies operating inside the building are assessing further stability issues, officials said.
