Wall Collapses At Gowanus Home, FDNY Says

GOWANUS, BROOKLYN — Officials are investigating what caused a 19th century Gowanus home to partially collapse late Thursday night, city authorities said. The collapse of an outside wall at the three-story house at 217 Ninth St. was reported just after 11 p.m., an FDNY spokesman said.

Investigators found the vacant building had partially collapsed from top to bottom and that the rest of it "had the potential for further collapse," a Department of Buildings spokesman said.

The collapse came a week after the house's owner, Praim Singh, filed an application to demolish it, Department of Buildings records show. The existing two-family, 3,657-square-foot home was built in 1899, according to real estate listings.

Singh plans to build a seven-story, 13-unit apartment building and community facility on the lot, city records show. Neither the demolition nor the construction of the new building have been approved by the DOB.

The DOB ordered the immediate demolition of the house and gave the owner a violation for failing to maintain it after the collapse, the department spokesman said.

A man who answered a phone call to Singh's number Friday morning said he could not discuss the collapse.

The DOB also issued vacate orders for the house and two neighboring properties at 211A and 219 Ninth St. as its investigation continues, the department spokesman said. The American Red Cross offered help to affected residents who need to relocate, the spokesman said.

(Lead image: Part of this house at 217 Ninth St. in Gowanus collapsed Thursday night. Image from Google Maps)