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2023 New York City parking garage collapse

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Coordinates: 40°42′38″N 74°00′23″W / 40.7105°N 74.0065°W / 40.7105; -74.0065
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2023 New York City parking garage collapse
A collapsed parking garage where collapsed pieces of cement are seen, with numerous SUVs damaged after they fell down as a result of the collapse.
The parking garage on the day after collapse
DateApril 18, 2023
Time~4 p.m. (EDT)
Location57 Ann Street, Manhattan, New York, United States
Coordinates40°42′38″N 74°00′23″W / 40.7105°N 74.0065°W / 40.7105; -74.0065
TypeStructural collapse
Deaths1
Non-fatal injuries7

In the afternoon hours of April 18, 2023, a parking garage building partially collapsed in the Financial District of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The garage collapsed around 4 p.m. EDT (20:00 UTC), when its second floor partially collapsed below onto the first. The disaster, known as the Ann Street Building Collapse after its location on Ann Street, resulted in one death and seven injuries, and prompted the evacuation of neighboring buildings. The garage itself had a history of building violations since 1957, and was initially scheduled to be inspected by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) at the end of 2023, despite inspection of New York City parking garages not being required until 2022.

During the emergency management response, a robotic dog was deployed by the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), the first time the department used it in response to a structural collapse. In the structural collapse area, fire department officials noted shaking and vibrations, prompting DOB employees to inspect the building's stability in the immediate aftermath. After concerns that demolition work on the partially collapsed-garage would trigger a secondary collapse, it was temporarily stopped. The rear of the parking garage also collapsed on April 29 during the continuation of the demolition work, 11 days after the initial partial collapse of the structure. As a result of the collapse, local residents were displaced, and the New York City government began requiring examinations of parking garages across the city.

Background

[edit]
An entrance to a parking garage in New York City, where a few signs leading to the entrance are noted.
Parking garage's entrance on Ann Street, photographed in 2017

The building, which was located at 57 Ann Street in New York City's Financial District, was built in 1925.[1][2] Both in 1926 and 1957, it was granted certificates of occupancy to operate as a garage holding "more than five" automobiles per level and for ten people to be on a floor at a time.[2] The 1957 certificate mandated that the roof was only to hold "passenger-car type" vehicles.[3] The New York City Sheriff's Office parked vehicles at the garage, six of which were present at the time of the collapse.[4]

The building had received multiple building violations since 1957. In 2003, the DOB found concrete defects in the stairs, along with cracks in the first-floor ceiling, spalling concrete, steel beams with missing concrete coverings, and defective concrete with exposed cracks.[1][5] In 2009, broken stairs and loose concrete was noted in numerous areas of the parking garage.[5] The DOB found in 2011 "that the permitted repair work was ongoing and that the interior maintenance of the building was in good condition".[1] However, in 2013, improper exit door issues were also noted.[6] The DOB commissioner stated that there was also an application for work on the building in 2010 for the automobile lift, however the open violations were not addressed during the application.[6] Overall, 19 violations were completed or defaulted, and an additional four were open which required a certificate of correction. The DOB issued 64 building-code violations to the garage's owner, 57 Ann Street Realty Association, between 1976 and 2023.[7]

Prior to the collapse, there were no recent permits for construction at 57 Ann Street.[8] Under a local law that required building inspections for all garages citywide by 2027, the DOB had been scheduled to inspect the garage before the end of 2023.[1] Despite several previous nonfatal parking-garage collapses in New York City, regulation of the city's parking garages had generally been lax, and regular inspections of the city's garages had not been required until 2022.[9]

Collapse

[edit]

The second floor of the parking garage partially collapsed onto the first floor at around 4 p.m. EDT on April 18, 2023.[10][11] The collapse killed the garage's 59-year-old manager, Willis Moore.[12][13] Initially, five people were reported injured, one of whom refused medical treatment.[14] Local TV station WPIX later reported that seven workers had been injured, including the worker who had declined treatment.[15]

Videos online showed numerous cars piled on top of each other.[16] Students attending nearby classes at Pace University heard "a large noise and a big rumbling" and similar effects of an earthquake, along with screams during the collapse.[17][18] Fire department officials noted shaking and vibrations in the collapse area, which prompted DOB employees to inspect the stability of the collapsed garage after being notified by them.[19] The garage collapse event was known as the Ann Street Building Collapse after its location on Ann Street.[20][21]

Response

[edit]

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the FDNY assisted with evacuations of nearby buildings and conducted rescues for people who were trapped in the collapsed garage.[22][23] The Digidog, a robotic dog by Boston Dynamics, was deployed to help survey the collapse area in some places where emergency responders were unable to do so, along with a drone and tower ladders; it was the first time the FDNY used the Digidog in a structural collapse.[24][25] Pace University canceled classes at their New York City campus and evacuated two university buildings.[26] As emergency crews and management responded to the collapse, New York City Subway services ran at slower speeds on several lines, including lines A, C, J/Z, 2, and 3, leading to delays.[27][28] New York City mayor Eric Adams called the building "completely unstable" as he visited the collapse site,[29] and at one point the FDNY withdrew its personnel due to the unsafe building conditions.[30] A street was blocked off due to fears that the buckled facade would collapse onto the street.[23] According to local media sources, initial findings attributed the age of the structure and an excess number of vehicles on the roof of the structure as contributing causes to the collapse.[3][4]

Moore's body was retrieved the day after the collapse.[13][15] Following the collapse, the building was scheduled to be razed via controlled demolition.[4][31][32] Although some sources said there had been between 80 and 90 vehicles in the garage just before it collapsed,[4][33] the FDNY estimated that there had been about 40 cars in the building.[15] On April 20, cranes began demolishing the remains of the garage, and a connected parking garage located at 25 Beekman Street was also to be demolished.[2][4] However, demolition was temporarily delayed due to concerns that the work would trigger a secondary collapse on the collapsed garage.[32] The rear of the garage partially collapsed on April 29, 2023, while it was being demolished.[34]

After the collapse, the DOB issued full or partial vacate orders to occupants of six buildings.[35] A neighboring Pace University building at 161 William Street was also deemed unstable;[7] Pace closed the building for the rest of its spring semester while the party wall between the garage and Pace's building was shored up.[36][37] The adjoining block of Ann Street was closed for several months, displacing residents of that block.[38][39]

New York City building inspectors conducted inspections of parking structures across the city. Shortly after the collapse, a DOB spokesperson found 61 parking garages to be "immediately hazardous", citing them to be improperly maintained and in poor structural condition.[9] In late April, four additional garages in Manhattan and Brooklyn were closed[40][41] for posing "an immediate threat to public safety".[42] One engineer indicated that the garage-inspection process could have saved lives if it had occurred earlier.[9] Several dozen garages with similar problems to the garage at 57 Ann Street had been identified by May 2023.[43][9] In November, the discovery of similar structural issues at another garage overlying Amtrak's West Side Line in Manhattan led to disruption of the Empire Service.[44][45] In early 2024, the city government hired a structural engineer to investigate the collapse.[46]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d McGeehan, Patrick; Meko, Hurubie (April 19, 2023). "Garage That Collapsed, Killing One, Was Due for Inspection This Year". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Brachfeld, Ben (April 19, 2023). "Lower Manhattan garage had history of violations for 'loose,' 'defective' concrete; will be demolished". amNewYork Metro. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Madani, Doha (April 19, 2023). "Deadly garage collapse in New York City due to building's nearly 100-year-old age, too many vehicles on roof". NBC News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e Moore, Jessica; Bauman, Ali; Westbrook, Elijah (April 20, 2023). "Cleanup begins after deadly NYC parking garage collapse in Lower Manhattan". CBS News. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Miller, Myles; Glorioso, Chris; Vazquez, Jennifer; Shea, Tom; Millman, Jennifer (April 19, 2023). "Shocking Footage Reviewed in Deadly NYC Parking Garage Collapse, Source Says". WNBC. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Glorioso, Chris (April 19, 2023). "Could Building Violations Have Led to Manhattan Garage Collapse?". WNBC. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Wallace, Danielle (April 19, 2023). "NYC deadly parking garage collapse: Building had 4 active violations, cause of 'pancaked' structure unclear". Fox News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  8. ^ "1 person is dead after a parking garage collapses in New York City". NPR. Associated Press. April 19, 2023. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d Chan, Wilfred (April 28, 2023). "'An inspection could have saved lives': race to check buildings after New York garage collapse". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on August 31, 2024. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  10. ^ Zanger, Jesse; Reid, Alecia (April 18, 2023). "1 dead, 5 injured in NYC parking garage collapse in Lower Manhattan; Pace University evacuates nearby buildings". CBS News. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  11. ^ "One killed in parking garage collapse in New York City's Financial District". The Guardian. April 18, 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  12. ^ Miles, Darla (April 19, 2023). "NYC parking garage collapse: Neighbors remember Willis Moore, victim believed dead in collapse". WABC-TV. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  13. ^ a b Miller, Myles; Calavan, Bobby Caina; Millman, Jennifer (April 20, 2023). "Body Recovered From Manhattan Garage Collapse Rubble; Controlled Demolition Underway". WNBC. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  14. ^ "1 dead, multiple injured in parking garage collapse in Lower Manhattan". WABC-TV. April 18, 2023. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c Ford, James (April 20, 2023). "Victim's body recovered in Manhattan parking garage collapse; demolition underway". WPIX. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  16. ^ Hoogensen, Finn; Euzarraga, Matthew; Cook, Lauren; Rosoff, Henry; Dow, Jay (April 18, 2023). "1 dead, 4 injured in parking garage collapse in Lower Manhattan: officials". WPIX. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  17. ^ "New video shows devastation after NYC parking garage collapse; 1 death reported". WPVI-TV. April 18, 2023. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  18. ^ Shaffrey, Ted; Calvan, Bobby Caina; Peltz, Jennifer (April 18, 2023). "'Like an earthquake': Parking garage falls in NYC, killing 1". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  19. ^ Shanahan, Ed (April 18, 2023). "One Dead in Parking Garage Collapse in Lower Manhattan". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  20. ^ "Everything We Know About the Ann Street Building Collapse". Curbed. April 18, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  21. ^ McNicholas, Tim (April 18, 2024). "1 year has passed since deadly Lower Manhattan parking garage collapse. What has changed?". WCBS-TV. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  22. ^ Gonella, Catalina; Corso, Phil; Br, David (April 18, 2023). "1 dead after parking garage partially collapses in Lower Manhattan, per FDNY". Gothamist. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  23. ^ a b Burke, Kerry; Parascandola, Rocco; Fisher, Janon; Gartland, Michael; Moynihan, Ellen (April 18, 2023). "One person killed, five others injured in parking garage collapse in lower Manhattan on Ann Street". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  24. ^ Herrman, John (April 12, 2023). "Meet NYC's New Robot Cops". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  25. ^ George, Alexandra (April 18, 2023). "Manhattan parking garage collapse: FDNY deployed robotic Dalmatian dog to survey unstable building". WABC-TV. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  26. ^ Hoogensen, Finn; Bink, Abby (April 18, 2023). "One killed, five injured after parking garage collapses in Lower Manhattan". The Hill. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  27. ^ "Lower Manhattan parking garage collapse leaves 1 dead, 5 injured". WNYW. April 18, 2023. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  28. ^ Euzarraga, Matthew; Hoogensen, Finn (April 18, 2023). "Subway service delayed after building collapse in Lower Manhattan: officials". WPIX. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  29. ^ Akinnibi, Fola; Nahmias, Laura (April 18, 2023). "NYC Parking Garage Collapse in Financial District Kills One". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  30. ^ Santucci, Jeanine; Ortiz, Jorge L. (April 18, 2023). "One dead, four hospitalized after NYC parking garage collapses in Manhattan's financial district". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  31. ^ Parker, Harry; Tracy, Thomas; Gartland, Michael; Moynihan, Ellen (April 19, 2023). "'Controlled demolition' now planned for collapsed lower Manhattan parking garage that killed one". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  32. ^ a b "NYC parking garage collapse: Demolition of Lower Manhattan structure delayed due to fears of secondary collapses". WABC-TV. April 21, 2023. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  33. ^ Moses, Dean (April 20, 2023). "Parking garage collapse: Demolition continues in Financial District after victim pulled from rubble". amNewYork Metro. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
  34. ^ "Secondary collapse reported at site of deadly Lower Manhattan parking garage collapse". CBS News. April 30, 2023. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  35. ^ Gartland, Michael (April 21, 2023). "Unclear if Ann Street garage collapse caused by SUVs on building roof, say NYC officials; disaster still under investigation". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  36. ^ "NYC parking garage collapse: Pace University building next door closes for spring semester". WABC-TV. April 24, 2023. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  37. ^ Bamberger, Cayla (April 21, 2023). "Garage collapse in lower Manhattan shutters Pace University building for spring semester". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on April 24, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  38. ^ Chi'en, Arthur (August 16, 2023). "Lower Manhattan neighborhood still struggling after parking garage collapse". WNYW. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  39. ^ McNicholas, Tim (August 9, 2023). "Nearly 4 months after Lower Manhattan parking garage collapse, some neighbors are still displaced". WCBS-TV. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  40. ^ Tracy, Thomas (April 29, 2023). "NYC officials order garage shutdowns in enforcement sweep that followed deadly Manhattan collapse". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  41. ^ "NYC parking garage collapse: 4 other structures shut down amid enforcement sweeps". WABC-TV. April 28, 2023. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  42. ^ Millman, Jennifer; Miller, Myles (April 29, 2023). "NYC Shutters Additional Parking Garages in Wake of Deadly Manhattan Collapse". WNBC. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  43. ^ McGeehan, Patrick; Elkeurti, Asmaa (May 15, 2023). "A Crumbling New York Garage Collapsed. Dozens More Have Similar Problems". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  44. ^ Haag, Matthew; Mather, Victor (November 13, 2023). "N.Y. Area Amtrak Service Paused Over Problems With Garage Above Tracks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  45. ^ "Amtrak service suspensions continue due to structural issues inside NYC parking garage". WNYW. November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  46. ^ Leggate, James (January 4, 2024). "NYC Hires Engineer LERA for Parking Garage Collapse Probe". Engineering News-Record. Archived from the original on March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
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