This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/01/nyregion/brooklyn-building-collapse.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
3-Story Building in Brooklyn That Housed Gym Suddenly Collapses 3-Story Building in Brooklyn That Housed Gym Suddenly Collapses
(32 minutes later)
A three-story building in Brooklyn suddenly collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, sending debris hurling onto surrounding sidewalks and terrifying passers-by.A three-story building in Brooklyn suddenly collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, sending debris hurling onto surrounding sidewalks and terrifying passers-by.
Firefighters were combing through the wreckage of the building, which housed the Body Elite Gym at the corner of Court and Union Streets. The Fire Department said that one person had suffered a minor injury. The gym had been closed for months during the pandemic, neighbors said.Firefighters were combing through the wreckage of the building, which housed the Body Elite Gym at the corner of Court and Union Streets. The Fire Department said that one person had suffered a minor injury. The gym had been closed for months during the pandemic, neighbors said.
Emergency personnel were treating a man who did not appear to be seriously injured in an ambulance near the scene of the collapse in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. No other buildings, including a grocery store next door, appeared to be damaged. Emergency personnel were treating a man who did not appear to be seriously injured in an ambulance near the scene of the collapse in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. No other buildings, including a grocery store next door, appeared to be damaged.
“I’m just shaking like crazy," said Robert Alimena, the owner of Body Elite Gym, who has been in California while the gym was closed. “The building is so thick, like five or six bricks thick, so I cannot imagine what would actually trigger this chain reaction.” The building collapse, which was reported to the Fire Department around 4:40 p.m., felt and sounded like a small earthquake, witnesses said.
“I’m just shaking like crazy," said Robert Alimena, the owner of Body Elite Gym, adding that it was a blessing that the gym was closed at the time of the accident. “The building is so thick, like five or six bricks thick, so I cannot imagine what would actually trigger this chain reaction.”
Since 2005, inspectors with the city’s Department of Buildings have issued at least eight fines to the building’s owner for large cracks throughout the property, including a 40-foot “bulge” on the wall facing Union Street, according to city records.Since 2005, inspectors with the city’s Department of Buildings have issued at least eight fines to the building’s owner for large cracks throughout the property, including a 40-foot “bulge” on the wall facing Union Street, according to city records.
The most recent fine was just a few weeks ago, on June 10, when inspectors found three large “masonry openings” along that wall and said that the side was “dangerously bulging and disintegrating.” The owner was given a $5,000 fine in June, which has not been paid.The most recent fine was just a few weeks ago, on June 10, when inspectors found three large “masonry openings” along that wall and said that the side was “dangerously bulging and disintegrating.” The owner was given a $5,000 fine in June, which has not been paid.
The property owner, Kihyo Park, did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.The property owner, Kihyo Park, did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.
“D.O.B. engineers and inspectors are on scene investigating the building collapse in Brooklyn,” an agency spokesman said on Wednesday.“D.O.B. engineers and inspectors are on scene investigating the building collapse in Brooklyn,” an agency spokesman said on Wednesday.
Mr. Alimena said that Mr. Park recently started repairs on the building to fix the cracks and the bulge. He said he was told that the bulge was a cosmetic issue that did not require extensive repairs. Mr. Alimena said that Mr. Park recently started repairs on the building to fix the cracks and the bulge. He was told that the bulge was a cosmetic issue that did not require extensive repairs, he said.
“It was supposed to be routine exterior work,” he said, adding that he was returning to New York City on Thursday to survey the damage. “It was supposed to be routine exterior work,” he said. Mr. Alimena, who has been in California in recent weeks, said that he was returning to New York City on Thursday to survey the damage.
For a brief while, the collapse turned the quiet residential neighborhood, which has been even quieter during the pandemic, into a bustling scene. Families, dog walkers and workers came outside and stared in amazement at the spot where the building once stood.
Roddy Evans, a sales agent at Body Elite Gym, which occupies the entire building, said that the recent construction was a beautification project that included installing glass bricks to let light into the gym.
“That’s why we’re all shocked, because it wasn’t structural,” said Mr. Evans, referring to the repairs. He was not inside at the time of the collapse.
Inside Marco Polo, an Italian restaurant directly across from the gym, Roberto Roquel, 28, was cleaning tables when he heard a thundering boom. Looking out the front windows, he saw a plume of dust rising from where the gym building had stood and scattering across the entire block.Inside Marco Polo, an Italian restaurant directly across from the gym, Roberto Roquel, 28, was cleaning tables when he heard a thundering boom. Looking out the front windows, he saw a plume of dust rising from where the gym building had stood and scattering across the entire block.
“The dust and smoke was as high as the building,” Mr. Roquel said. “The street was covered in dust. Everything was covered.”“The dust and smoke was as high as the building,” Mr. Roquel said. “The street was covered in dust. Everything was covered.”
Afraid more debris could crash into the restaurant, he sprinted out the back entrance, he said.Afraid more debris could crash into the restaurant, he sprinted out the back entrance, he said.
Minutes before the building collapsed, Zacarías González, 35, was standing on the corner of Union and Court Streets when he noticed bricks falling from the gym building.
“I thought maybe it was the workers doing construction on it or throwing bricks off,” Mr. González said.
He walked another 20 feet down Court Street, in the opposite direction of the gym, when he suddenly heard a low boom and saw a cloud of tan dust flood onto the street, covering him from head to toe.
“The entire thing just came down like there was no real warning,” Mr. González said, adding that he sprinted to his apartment building. “I couldn’t even see my hands because of the dust.”
Anne Barnard and Christina Goldbaum contributed reporting, and Sheelagh McNeill contributed research.Anne Barnard and Christina Goldbaum contributed reporting, and Sheelagh McNeill contributed research.