Fatal Fall Building Failed To Inspect Balconies

After learning that their 24-year-old son fell 24 floors to his death when his apartment's balcony railing gave way, Conor Donohue's parents told the Post, "We're just devastated. We're heartbroken. He was 24 years old. He was a great person who made the right choices in life." And now the Department of Buildings says the building failed to inspect the balconies as required by law.

Donohue's body was found on Sunday morning, outside of an apartment building at 330 East 39th Street in Manhattan. The DOB found that the railing at Donohue's balcony was "loose and damaged." According to the Daily News, "Jennifer Towers Apartment Corp., the owner of the building at 330 E. 39th St., was required to hire engineers to inspect the high-rise's exterior and submit a report to the Buildings Department by early 2007." But the building never did (see the violation); an executive for the management company told the Post, "Sometimes [inspections] take longer than usual to get accomplished. We are in the process of taking care of what we need to take care of."

Yesterday, the News described Donohue, "Until last month, Donohue worked as dean of students for Prep for Prep, a nonprofit Manhattan group that identifies promising minority students and prepares them for private school," and had just taken "a job at SingleStop USA, a nonprofit group that directs poor working families to earmarked government funds for food, child care, medical services and other basic needs." A friend spoke of his loyalty while a former professor at Connecticut College told the News that Donohue was an "excellent student," gifted percussionist, and "More importantly, he was a really nice guy. He was a born leader."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on March 17, 2010 9:49 AM

Comments [rss]

Antonio

May he rest in peace.

vikii wong

I'm stunned I learned of his death this way! We crossed paths when I briefly served on the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of New York City Advisory Board as the External Communications Chair and Connor served as the External Affairs Vice Chair. In our interactions, I found Connor to be a professional and a great guy.

My condolences to Connor's family.

NannyState

Terrible loss.

40oz.killa

damn, imagine falling 24 floors. ouch.

Spirit of 76

The fall's not so bad. It's the sudden stop at the end of the fall that I wouldn't want to experience.

40oz.killa

its gotta be instant death. but damn the shit that would be going through your head as your falling... sad.

ed_Extinct

Sounds like manslaughter charges ought to be filed against Jennifer Towers Apartment Corp. and then of course at least $200MM awarded to the family.

theevilone

Incredibly sad. Kid sounded like a good egg. RIP.

seven

Very sad...it seems like he was one of the good ones. Such a tragic way to go.

Splicer

Certainly, my condolences to the family. I hope the District Attorney brings at least negligent homicide charges against the people responsible for hiring an inspector and that a judge imposes whatever maximum sentence is allowed by law. Harsh penalties are the only way that businesses are ever forced to do the right thing since you can hardly expect them to of their own accord. In this case among many, it is quite apparent that greed is not good.

Wza

So sad.

Gotham Extremist

Man that fuckin blows, so tragic..... r i p......

freddynyc

Again, why do we never hear of a homicidal maniac or a drug dealer being hit by a bus?

Clarice City

This is so very sad.

Clarice City

intended as a seperate comment

Clarice City

Because God protects assholes?

jterry121

great- now NYC's deficit will be $10 Million bigger after the city settles with this guys family.

Iphie

Why would the city be required to pay? It sounds as though the apartment building was privately owned, and failed to maintain their property to required standards. If nothing else, the family should sue -- taking money away from landlords seems to be the only punishment they understand.