First Avenue Could Be Closed Through Weekend Over Fears Of Falling Bricks

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- More than a dozen Upper East Side residents remained out of their homes late Friday over concerns that falling bricks from a building next door could come crashing through their wood-framed building.

First Avenue also remained closed in the east 60s, and the closure was likely to remain in place for the weekend.

But the city Department of Buildings was working hard to rectify the problem late Friday.

The city's Department of Buildings ordered all 16 tenants at 346 E. 63rd St. to leave Thursday. The bricks began falling Monday from the facade of the neighboring building on First Avenue and 64th Street.

"I got called by the Building Department that they're going to evacuate the building and they needed me over here to make sure the tenants are out," the building's superintendent, Gino Fenech, said.

Over the last few days, crews put up scaffolding and protective netting to catch anything else that may fall, CBS2's Andrea Grymes reported. Just after nightfall Friday, the scaffolding started moving 34 stories above First Avenue, in a plan to remove the dangling danger brick by brick, CBS2's Lou Young reported.

As merchants and residents watched, many remembered what it was like Monday night when the bricks started to come down on their own.

"I just jumped, it was so loud," said witness Ariana Joubert. "We heard people screaming and running. It was terrifying."

A whole two-story section of brick has been pulling away from the wall it is attached to. Engineers decided to pour glue in the gap to keep the remaining bricks temporarily in place, so they could be taken down by hand.

It will be a time-consuming process, but no one was apologizing for it.

"Listen, I don't want to keep First Avenue closed any longer than anybody else does, but it has to be right, and it has to be the safety of the people and the safety of the workers, right?" said Office of Emergency Management Deputy Commissioner Frank McCarton. "We didn't have anyone injured the first night this happened, and I'm not going to have anybody injured as we go through this process."

"I'm glad that they're trying their best to make it safe. I'm not happy that it's taking so long," said neighborhood businessman Eddie Mendoza, "because we're losing a lot of money as a business."

In the meantime, First Avenue from 60th to 64th streets also remains shut down.

For drivers, pedestrians and residents in this neighborhood near the busy Ed Koch-Queensboro Bridge, a permanent fix cannot come soon enough.

"Traffic is backed up for blocks and blocks," said resident Lawrence Rich.

"It is what it is. I just wish it would hurry up and be over," said Deborah Anderson, who works in the area.

"In a few days, the world changed here and I'm like, trying to adjust, but it's all towards the best," another neighbor told 1010 WINS' John Montone.

"Terrible the traffic, forget it," a cab driver said.

"I'm trying to get to my apartment and I have to ask the cop every single time to go," resident Frank Aquino said. "It kinda stinks."

"It's just a shame for all the people who have businesses here that can't do business," resident Joel Bekowitz said.

Anthony Giaimo, who owns a laundromat, says he's been closed since Tuesday.

"Tremendous inconvenience for everybody. Nobody's making money," Giaimo said. "We lost a lot of walkins in the neighborhood; they can't come up to us."

Next week, the city promised, will be better on First Avenue.

"We'll start with the bus lane and evaluate opening it up as quickly as possible," said Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler. "Our objective is the Monday morning rush, but if the work goes better than planned, it's possible earlier."

In:
• John Montone
• Upper East Side