Brooklyn Building Remains Under Partial Evacuation Order After Crack Found On Facade
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- About a dozen families remain homeless after a large crack in the facade of a Brooklyn apartment building prompted an evacuation on Monday.
The massive crack can be seen in the back of the building at 3405 Kings Highway in the Flatlands section.
The entire building was evacuated Monday afternoon as the Department of Buildings and the FDNY checked the building's stability.
Most of the residents have since been allowed to return, but those living in two rows of apartments closest to the damage were not allowed back in their apartments.
"I'm pretty stressed out, I didn't sleep all night," displaced resident Michael Kessler told CBS 2's Weijia Jiang.
"That side can collapse," the building's superintendent Kayhan Sengun told Jiang.
The City's Department of Buildings posted a notice saying a construction site adjacent to the building caused the damage during the excavation process. The DOB ordered the company to stop work and make repairs. Kessler told Jiang residents felt shaking and vibrating at times as crews worked on the foundation of the building next door.
"I felt all the rumbles, I felt every vibration when they were pounding," Kessler said.
Sengun said the cracks first appeared 10 days ago, and that he called the city and the construction manager several times for help, but nothing was done and the cracks kept spreading, Jiang reported.
"I told them all the time, it's dangerous, but nobody cared... nobody cared. I called too many times," Sengun said.
The construction contractor Volmar declined to speak to CBS 2 either over the phone or in person.
"The super said you don't have any permits, the super said he tried to tell you about the cracks," Jiang asked a worker at a construction shed.
"I have no comment," the worker replied, before shutting the door.
Signs indicating a notice to vacate and padlocks warn tenants can't return until the cracks are gone, Jiang reported.
The DOB issued several violations to the contractor. The city has ordered Volmar to stop work and make repairs.
The Red Cross is assisting the remaining displaced families.
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