Developer In Crane Disaster is FDNY Veteran

As rescuers pick through the rubble of buildings crushed and damaged by a crane collapse in midtown Manhattan yesterday, real estate developer James Kennelly was familiar with the scene because he served 13 years with the FDNY, where he had been assigned to Ladder 16 in Manhattan on East 67th St.

The developer of 303 East 51st St., a planned 40+ floor skyscraper where the crane was situated, Kennelly earned a bachelor and law degree in his off-hours as a firefighter and became involved in real estate when he bought a store on Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn and opened a bar that he named after himself. After splitting time between saving lives and changing the skyline, he retired from the FDNY in 2004 to devote himself full time to real estate development. During the real estate boom of the last few years, Kenelly became a multimillionaire.

At least four people were killed during the crane collapse and many others were injured. In a statement, Kennelly said his company hired Reliance Construction Group to build the 51st St. tower because of the company's record of safety.

He also added subcontractor New York Crane, hired by RCG, was chosen because it was the preeminent crane company in the region. "There are no words to describe the level of devastation we feel today as a result of this tragic event. Our heart and prayers are with the families of those who died in this horrible accident. We are also praying for a full recovery for the individuals who have been injured today."

Photo of 305 East 50th Street by Jason DeCrow/AP; inset of Kennelly from the Kennelly Development website