Crown Heights Construction Forces Building To Evacuate: FDNY

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — A building in western Crown Heights was evacuated after the FDNY received reports of an unstable building facade, officials told Patch.

Early Monday morning, the fire department received reports of a shaky facade at 456 St. Marks Ave., an eight-story building near Classon Avenue, prompting firefighters to evacuate the building, according to the department.

At just before 9 a.m., fire officials filed a complaint with the Department of Buildings for a neighboring constructions site at 458 St. Marks Avenue, complaining that the site may not be adequately protecting adjacent properties. The complaint asks DOB for an inspection.

Additionally, the FDNY said that a seismic monitor in place did not register any additional movement, and the department declared the situation under control just after 9:45 a.m.

Patch reached out to the construction site's owner, Steven Hurwitz, president of CAVU Property Group, but did not hear back shortly after the incident.

Hurwitz purchased the vacant lot at 458 St. Marks Ave., across the street from one of the neighborhood's favorite greasy spoons, Neptune Diner II, at the end of 2022 for $6.75 million with plans to build a six-story apartment building with 19 units averaging over 1,000 square feet each, according to city records. The site is also across the street from P.S. 705.

Excavation permits were approved on March 2.