Brooklyn Building On Myrtle Avenue Collapses

Photograph via haesun on Twitter

A little before 2 p.m., a four-story building on Myrtle Avenue, between Hall and Ryerson Streets, collapsed in the Clinton Hill/Bed Stuy neighborhood. Vesper Bar & Lounge was on the first floor. It's considered a second-alarm "Major Emergency." Apparently the Fire Department has accounted for all people who were inside the building.

From Google Street View

According to folks on Williamsboard, there was "scaffolding on the side, old bldg being worked on apparently by people who didn't quite know what they were doing." The FDNY reported three civilian with minor injuries; one man who was hit by bricks was taken to the hospital.

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By Jen Chung in News on June 21, 2009 2:58 PM

Comments [rss]

warnerrach

I live in Ft/ greene and it' s worth noting that my building has been

shaking MUCH more after the 2 lane expansion of the BQE one block

away. The building shakes MORE when a truck travels along the BQE than

when it goes past right in front of my building! Has anyone

investigated the effect that this expansion may have or is having on

the surrounding buildings?

Many more buildings, including my own, could be at risk if this

lane expansion has had unexpected effects on the saftey of the surrounding area.

Lets get the core of engineers and some sizemologists out here asap!!

lesterhead

Eyewitness account of the collapse:

http://www.clintonhillblog.com/?p=3271

Photos:

http://www.clintonhillblog.com/?p=3269

goodbyewren

I did some research on this. This problem has been around for a while, first reported 12 years ago.

Collapse of 493 Myrtle Avenue

ambage

I am so glad everyone is ok. I was dropping off the laundry 4 doors down and it shook the earth under my feet.

claudio

How much you wanna bet $8/hour Mexican illegal labor was involved? And according to the Post it was obvious the building was failing over a month and the owner didn't do anything. I feel bad for the tenants. The dirtbag owner deserved it, hopefully it won't be covered by insurance.