The Daily News reports that the "empty cigarette packs and beer cans were found on several floors" of the former Deutsche Bank building last week. Last year, the building, which is being slowly dismantled, was the site of a seven-alarm fire that claimed the lives of two firefighters; the fire was started by a worker's cigarette (smoking in prohibited) and exposed a number of violations. The matter is apparently being investigated, but, upon learning about this, the father of one fallen firefighters said, "It makes me feel like I want to puke. They just don't care." more ›

A week after the illegally converted-for-residential use warehouse 475 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg was evacuated by city agencies, due to building violations including an illegal matzoh bakery (and combustible grains being stored in the basement), the building will be padlocked this afternoon at 4PM. There will be a "solemn observance of the shutting of a great arts community," according to a press release we received. More details:

Come and show your support for the 200+ displaced tenants of 475 and the live/work community as a whole. more ›

Over 150 residents of an eleven-story building at Kent Avenue in South Williamsburg were evacuated yesterday after the Fire Department and Buildings Department found a number of violations. The building had been illegally converted to residences and a matzoh factory, complete with two silos of (highly combustible) grain in the basement. A neighboring building was cited as well, and the violations ranged from non-working standpipes (which firefighters use to deliver water to fires), illegal partitions, blocked exits, inoperable sprinkler systems and others, including the illegal grain silos for the unauthorized basement bakery. more ›