The Daily News checked out the new crane at the 1st Avenue and East 91 Street site where a crane collapsed, killing two men, in May. Neighbors were wary--one said, "The first thing I thought was, 'Oh, here we go again,'" while another said, "I tend to think they won't screw up twice, but I don't want to be the one who is told, 'I told you so.'" The Buildings Department said the crane is "fresh out of the box," referring to how the previous crane was 25 years old--and was struck by lightning in 2007. The DOB recently introduced new rules requiring crane contractors to have the cranes' manuals on hand for inspectors, which the industry isn't very happy with because many cranes are so old, the manuals are lost.
New Crane at Collapse Site "Fresh Out of the Box"
DOB Revokes Permit of March's Crane Collapse Site
The East 51st Street condominium site where a crane collapsed into buildings--completely leveling a townhouse and killing seven--had its construction permit revoked. A month after the March 15 collapse, it was revealed plans for the 43-story building should never have been approved by the Department of Buildings (it's possible revised plans could still have been approved), so the developer James Kennelly was asked to resubmit plans.
East 91st Street Crane Was Struck by Lightning in 2007
As the Department of Buildings, Manhattan DA's office, and OSHA investigate the fatal May 30 crane collapse at East 91st Street and First Avenue, the crane's history continues to be a focus.
Allegedly Corrupt Top Crane Official Has No Comment
Yesterday, the assistant chief inspector for cranes was arrested and charged with accepting bribes "to falsify inspection reports and overlook unqualified operators." Upon leaving court, James Delayo, 60, who is a 26-year veteran of the Department of Buildings, did not respond to when a street sweeper asked him "if he felt responsible" for the fatal crane collapses in recent months.
Investigation Begins in Upper East Side Crane Collapse; DOB Focuses on "Weld That Failed"
Yesterday, at a luxury condominium construction site, a crane collapsed at East 91st Street and First Avenue, damaging a building across the street and killing two workers. Though this was the second crane collapse in two months, city officials do not believe the circumstances were similar to th March 15 incident where a condominium construction crane collapsed into buildings, killing seven people. In fact, the DOB believes a weld in the crane is what failed.
School Planned at Site of UES Crane Collapse
Concerns about school overcrowding dovetailed into condominium construction plans at 331 East 91st Street, where a crane collapse this morning left at least one person dead.

