Community Corner

Tenants Evacuated After Partial Chelsea Building Collapse

Dozens of bricks rained down on a stretch of Eighth Avenue after part of a Chelsea building suddenly collapsed.

CHELSEA, NY — Police evacuated a Chelsea building after dozens of bricks suddenly rained down on the Eighth Avenue sidewalk Monday afternoon, officials said.

Just after 3 p.m. a 17 foot by 3 foot section of the brick four-story building crumbled from the facade, smashing the awning of the ground floor dry cleaners between 17th and 18th streets and landed on the sidewalk below, according to the city's Department of Buildings.

The bricks came crashing down from the fourth floor. No injuries were reported, police said.

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Department of buildings inspectors ordered the property owner install a 65-foot-long sidewalk shed in front of the crumbling structure to protect pedestrians. The city also slapped the owner with a violation for failing to maintain the building, said a Department of Buildings spokesman.

Tenants were allowed to return to their homes and businesses late Monday, police said.

Find out what's happening in Chelseafor free with the latest updates from Patch.


Photos courtesy of Atlas Wegman

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