Ratner Rubble Displaces Hundreds

700-CRW_5239 Ward Bakery Collaspe, Pacific Street, Atlantic Yards, originally uploaded by AKinloch.

Several sources are reporting on the collapse of the north parapet of the old Ward Bakery Building earlier this morning. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the 350 residents of a nearby homeless shelter were evacuated indefinitely.

The building was certified as structurally sound prior to the demolition, which leads one to question the safety of Forest City Ratner's demolition practices. Especially given the fact that a demolition related collapse resulted in a gaping hole in 5th Avenue just yesterday.

This is what happens when you a have a developer driven process with no public input or oversight. The ESDC should call a halt to all demolitions within the footprint until the causes are thoroughly investigated and the risk of future collapses mitigated. We don't need a "next time" where pedestrians get crushed in addition to cars.

At least this solved the mystery of the helicopters I heard buzzing around incessantly this morning. I expect there will be some interesting footage on the evening news.

Thanks to Brit In Brooklyn for the excellent photos of the wreckage. There are many more here.

Comments

[BIB]

thanks for the link/credit!

[Steve-o]

Looked like a traffic copter, to be honest (though camoflage and subterfuge are key elements of any good conspiracy). Rachel now draws my attention to something she saw in the 'hood. She was at the corner of 8th Ave and Berkeley and could see that there was a school bus, south of Union, at a "funny" angle, and a police car blocking all traffic from coming through. I haven't heard any news regarding an incident involving a school bus (and if anything had happened to a bus with kiddies aboard, I'd think I would have), but it is an anomaly that at least fits the timing.

[Dope]

There was one directly - full stop directly - over our apartment for 30 minutes this morning. Yet it was a good hour before the collapse

Pipistrelle made the same point. Maybe there's a conspiracy afoot?

Was the helicopter black?

[Steve-o]

Does it (explain the helicopters, that is)? There was one directly - full stop directly - over our apartment for 30 minutes this morning. Yet it was a good hour before the collapse, from the latest estimations. Weird.