FDNY Looks For Cause Of 7-Alarm Chinatown Fire

Photograph by TJ Ryan on Flickr

The Fire Department is still trying to determine what caused a fire in a Grand Street building in Chinatown to turn into a seven-alarm fire spreading to many buildings that killed one, injured dozens, and left over 200 people homeless. One of the buildings apparently had many Department of Building violations, including ones for flame-retardant materials.

According to the Daily News, an inspector for the Department of Housing Preservation and Development "spotted holes in the walls of 283 Grand... and the city cited the owner, Fair Only Real Estate Corp. of Flushing, Queens, on June 23 for the 'broken or defective fire retardant material' in the walls." While the building later said the wall was repaired, "returning inspectors later found the 'work that was done wasn't up to the standard.'" There were also previous citations for missing smoke detectors and the city had sued Fair Only numerous times, for not providing heat or hot water (a hearing is scheduled for tomorrow).

Now the building, along with 285-287 Grand Street, will be torn down because of the extensive damage; demolitions may take two weeks. The two buildings, which have both market-rate and rent-stabilized apartments. had also been on the market. The News says many residents lost their passports, immigration papers and green cards; one resident said, "We didn't think this was going to be as big a fire as it was. So many people just left their stuff inside." And one resident whose family lost their life savings in the blaze is getting support from the gaming community.

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By Jen Chung in News on April 14, 2010 12:23 PM

Comments [rss]

ProfessorVonNostren

Does anyone know who to contact to help these people out? Are they being cared for by the Red Cross or another organization?

JacqueMehoff

it would be a shame to knock them down. their large stone exterior really sets themselves out from the other brick buildings. and thankfully it was the fire escapes that assisted in the evacuation.

anyway, should be an easy upgrade to luxury housing stock with luxury bathrooms and kitchens now that it's just a shell.

Spirit of 76

If it's just a shell, it's unstable and needs to be torn down for the safety of the public. Walls need to be braced by beams, joists and other internal structures. Without them, one strong wind could send an entire wall crashing into the street. Even if the supports are just heavily damaged, it may be impossible to take them out safely and replace them with new ones. Just look at all the stories on Gothamist about collapses at building sites.

It's a real shame to lose good architecture like that, probably to be replaced by some graceless glass box. All the recent buildings in and around Chinatown are undistinguished. I think the last decent one was Confucius Plaza thanks to its curviture. Chatham Towers with their Brutalist design is hideous. One Police Plaza is about as plain as they come.

youngpro

still looking for a cause? maybe you should ask the owner(s) first ;) it IS chinatown after all.

Wza

Yeh, funny how long it takes to find out the cause.

schadenfreudian mensch

Forget it, Jake, it's Chinatown.

drewo

Looks like they'll get away with murder.

Spirit of 76

Whether you decide to keep your life savings at home is your decision, but if you're keeping that kind of money in cash, at least get a fire-resistant box or safe. $70 to keep thousands or tens of thousands safe is not an unreasonable expense. It could also help guard against burglary.