Six Die As Brooklyn Building Collapses
Investigators examine if nearby excavation work contributed to the failure of the 96-year-old structure.
By Ethan Cook ·
At least six people died and 19 others were injured when a 96-year-old building at 1321 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn collapsed Wednesday night. City records indicate that demolition and construction activities had been taking place for months at the adjacent site on Bedford Avenue.
The timeline of work next door began well before the structural failure. Department of Buildings data shows a summons was issued to the construction site in April. Although a stop-work order was allegedly violated, officials stated it was later resolved. Blueprints for the neighboring project outline a mixed-use development planned to include retail space, medical services, and residential apartments.
Visual evidence points to substantial changes at the site next to the collapsed building. Google Maps imagery displays the commercial structure that previously occupied the construction lot. Comparing that data with aerial video from Wednesday night reveals the neighboring building is gone, with rubble filling the space where it once stood.
Glenn Corbett, a construction safety expert at John Jay College, noted that digging near older structures often raises stability questions. He said he has not investigated the specific site but pointed to retaining walls, or shores, as a common area of concern. "When you go and dig next to these kind of buildings, there's always an issue of stability," Corbett said.
Corbett questioned whether the support structures were built correctly, specifically regarding the size of members and wood panels. "Was that not up to speed as far as what's required?" he asked, noting that steel was likely involved in the construction process.
WABC found no building violations on record for the site of the collapsed building itself. The station contacted the contractor who received the April summons. That contractor told the network his company performed the demolition but left the job site by late April or early May. He said he was not aware of any existing condition of the shores.
Investigators continue to examine the debris to determine the precise cause of the collapse. Corbett emphasized the need for the city to understand the mechanics of the failure. "They've got to find out why did that happen? And do we need to change the rules?" he said.
