Investigative report released on Morris Heights building collapse
The investigation revealed a support beam that held up a corner of the building was removed before a temporary structure was installed in its place.
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The city released its investigative report into what caused a Morris Heights partial building collapse last December.
Concrete slabs are left in the place of what used to be bedrooms at 1915 Billingsley Terrace.
A section of the building partially collapsed two weeks before Christmas in 2023. It crumbled into a bodega below and launched search and rescue efforts on the ground.
The investigation revealed a support beam that held up a corner of the building was removed before a temporary structure was installed in its place.
The city is pointing the blame to the buildings engineer and contractors for failing to safeguard the public from the building. They both are facing fines and license suspensions.
No one was seriously hurt, but more than two dozen families were displaced and sent to live in shelters across the city for several months. At least seven of the apartments are still padlocked and unlivable.
"We were all in danger and the consequences could have been worse," said Melida who lives next door to one of the apartments that was destroyed.
The city is currently staffing a new unit that will work to identify derelict buildings and unsafe contractors to prevent major collapses from happening.
