New York City's independent watchdog agency, the Department of Investigation (DOI), has initiated an inquiry into the structural failure at a high-rise on East 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan. This investigation comes after two supporting columns buckled within the building, forcing evacuations and road closures earlier this week. The Manhattan district attorney's office has also opened a preliminary criminal inquiry into the incident.
The building, the former Pfizer headquarters located at 235 East 42nd Street, is being converted into apartments by developer MetroLoft. The company was adding 18,000 square feet to 15 upper floors when the additional load caused two columns to bend, leading some floors to sag by as much as 4 inches. Developers initially attributed the issue to faulty column supports under too much weight. Although the developer stated the building was never at risk of collapse, city officials described it as unstable and established a "collapse zone."
Workers reportedly spotted cracks on the 22nd floor and bending columns on the 21st floor, prompting an evacuation. The building has since been stabilized with emergency jacks and new steel supports. The probe will involve reviewing construction documents, interviewing witnesses, and examining video and photo evidence. The Department of Buildings has also mandated the building's owner to hire a third-party engineer for a forensic evaluation. This project, which aimed to add 1,600 residential units, was set to be the largest residential conversion in the United States, involving numerous companies and subcontractors.
MetroLoft, one of the developers, is reportedly facing a separate $300 million-plus legal challenge regarding alleged "defects and code violations" at another converted property in Tribeca. Additionally, the private inspection firm, Domani Inspection Services, hired for the 42nd Street project, has a history of violations from the NYC Department of Buildings, including failing to report a facade collapse and being fined $12,500 for a concrete wall section breaking loose at another site. The mayor, Zohran Mamdani, emphasized that while office-to-residential conversions are crucial for housing, safety and accountability are paramount, indicating a clear breakdown in the process.
