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November 2, 2007
Another Structural Accident on Ratner's Watch
Brownstoner has the scoop on the story not covered in any of the daily papers, because it generally takes someone getting seriously maimed or killed or some other dramatic structural collapse to impress an editor:
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Just around the corner from where the parapet of Ward's Bakery collapsed last April, another Forest City Ratner-controlled property in the Atlantic Yards footprint began falling apart yesterday, necessitating the evacuation of several tenants. At some point yesterday afternoon, the facade at 540 Vanderbilt Avenue (an 8-unit building which Ratner bought for $2 million in 2005) began "peeling off," according a tipster. When we arrived around 5 p.m., an employee from the scaffolding company confirmed the story.
NoLandGrab: Assistance and answers about the "peeling facade" and the condition of other Ratner-owned buildings should be handled by the ombudsman promised by the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) 178 days ago, because, as the quasi-governmental corporation explained in an official statement after the Ward Bakery parapet collapse, "safety is our utmost concern." That statement was issued more than 100 days before ESDC spokesperson Errol Cockfield told reporters that "safety is our No. 1 priority" in the wake of the Deutsche Bank fire.
Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn had more questions than answers: "Another Ratner Owned Building in Trouble":
Another Ratner owned building, this one residential, apparently has "structural damage" requiring the displament of the four units of tenants in the building. Last time it was the collapse of the Ward Bakery parapet which temporarily evacuated the buidlings surrounding it. This time renters have been removed (as of the last reports we have) from the building due to the "danger;" this is a much easier way to push tenants out as compared to buying them out or using eminent domain.
Again, why is a building Ratner has owned for over 2 years falling apart (if it is)? Could it be the desire to cause blight and harass residents out of their homes because they stand in the way of his land grab? Or is it just incompetency and negligence?
Where is the ESDC and their omubudsman?
Posted by lumi at November 2, 2007 8:31 AM