NYC suspends engineer's inspection authority due to conduct at Bronx building collapse site

Clean up continues Friday at the building that partially collapsed in Morris Heights earlier this week leaving more than 100 people without a home.

Samantha Chaney and Valerie Ryan

Dec 15, 2023, 10:59 AM

Updated 371 days ago

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The mayor's office has announced that they will be suspending the inspection authority for an engineer due to the engineer's conduct at the site of the Bronx building collapse. 
According to the mayor's office, the engineer misdiagnosed a load-bearing structural column as decorative during a June 2023 filing. 
“There are over a million buildings across our city, and it is crucial that New Yorkers are safe in every one of those buildings. But when those who are entrusted to keep us safe cut corners and make catastrophic mistakes, we’re going to take swift action and hold them accountable,” said Mayor Eric Adams in a press release sent on Friday.
Cleanup is still underway at the building that partially collapsed in Morris Heights earlier this week.
More than 100 people were left without a home. Some of those residents were allowed back inside to collect their belongings. Residents who cannot retrieve their belongings can visit Bronx Community College, call 877-RED-CROSS for support or the Emergency Housing Hotline at 212-863-7660.
Over 50 displaced families have been staying in hotels. Elected officials say they are working diligently to help residents with the uncertainty they are facing day in and day out.
Rep. Ritchie Torres says the building was deemed unsafe in 2020. It wasn't until two years later that repairs were made.
The District Attorney's Office says it is working with city agencies, including the Department of Buildings, to see if there was any criminality involved.