Rear wall collapse at abandoned Fort Greene property displaces ten residents
Residents in adjacent buildings say firefighters knocked on their doors around 11:30 a.m., ordering them to evacuate out of concern that additional walls could fail..
Ten people were forced from their homes Friday after the rear wall of an abandoned property in Fort Greene suddenly collapsed, sending debris into neighboring yards and raising concerns about the stability of several nearby apartments.
The collapse happened late Friday morning, prompting a large emergency response. The Department of Buildings began to inspect nearby structures, National Grid crews dug into the street to check gas lines, and the Red Cross arrived to assist displaced residents.
Photos and video from a neighboring backyard show the entire rear-facing wall of the abandoned building sheared off, leaving the interior exposed and rubble scattered across the property. No injuries were reported.
Residents in adjacent buildings say firefighters knocked on their doors around 11:30 a.m., ordering them to evacuate out of concern that additional walls could fail.
For some who live next door, the collapse didn’t come as a shock. Lee Hunter, whose backyard borders the abandoned structure, said the building had been deteriorating for years.
“Not surprised at all. It’s been abandoned, in terrible shape, and the source of all the neighborhood rat problems,” Hunter said, adding that 311 previously documented extensive rodent burrows beneath the property. “This is nothing to play around with.”
The Department of Buildings says three buildings in total were inspected for safety following the collapse.
The safety inspection found that 347 Myrtle Ave. had major structural damage and cracks on multiple floors of the building.
The next-door building, 349 Myrtle Ave., also had serious damage, with serious disrepair with a partially collapsed roof and significant interior water damage.
The other impacted building at 345 Myrtle Ave. was evacuated and 10 tenants are displaced until an engineering report stating that it is safe to reoccupy is submitted to DOB.
The DOB says all three buildings have been given a vacate order and a slew of violations to of the landlords for their failure to maintain the buildings.
