Tower Crane Collapse Shouldn't Have Happened, Building Plans Violated Code

It wasn't that long ago when a tower crane fell on several buildings in the Turtle Bay neighborhood, killing seven and injuring many more. It was a terrible tragedy and a giant wake-up call for city legislators who are finally realizing that the Department of Buildings is not keeping up with its obligation to keep construction sites safe. There are too many sites with greedy developers and not enough inspectors to make sure everything is legit. Yet for the soaring high-rise on 2nd Avenue and 52nd Street, the Department of Buildings didn't even bother to check (or care) to make sure the plans for the tower were copacetic for the area.

From The NY Times:

Under direct and often withering questioning by council members at the hearing of the Housing and Buildings Committee, called to review crane safety and inspection, Ms. Lancaster said the building under construction had been approved “not in accordance with the zoning regulation.”

“Wow,” said Councilwoman Jessica S. Lappin, whose district includes the site of the crane collapse. “You’re telling me this building should never have been approved in the first place?”

“That is correct,” Ms. Lancaster replied.

Other Councilmembers equally expressed their displeasure:

“We’re not Chicken Little,” said Councilwoman Rosie Mendez. “We’re saying the sky is falling because the sky is falling.”

Councilman Tony Avella said, “I don’t trust your agency to give me the correct time of day.”

It is a travesty that it has to come to public grillings by City Hall to make Lancaster and the DoB accountable for their neglect for the people of New York's safety. Something must change and change quickly, before the next "accident."