Carroll Street Brownstone Collapses; To Be Demolished

July 2, 2012 Heather Chin

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A three-story brownstone at 241 Carroll Street is to be demolished, ordered the city Department of Buildings on Monday, following a structural stability check after portions of the building collapsed at around 1:10 a.m. on Monday, June 30. No one was injured in the collapse and all residents present were evacuated safely.

Residents from 240 Carroll Street, as well as 115 and 117 First Place were also evacuated. The Fire Department, NYPD, Con Edison and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) were also on hand to help with evacuations, shut off gas and electric lines, and check the foundation in preparation of the demolition and its potential effect on the Carroll Street subway station below.

The Red Cross is currently assisting the displaced residents – including at least eight children. Residents of neighboring buildings are not yet allowed to return to their apartments.

P.S. 58 The Carroll School, which is on the other side of an alley abutting the building, was not affected and welcomed summer program students as per usual today.

According to the DOB website, there have been no violations or complaints reported about the building; until now, the only filing was a 2010 application to turn the site into a three-family building, filed under owner Howard Schneider’s wife, Sisi’s, name. Although given the go-ahead, the couple, who live at the property with their three children, had not yet begun construction.

Schneider has declined to speak with the press, but his wife told The New York Times that although they “are going through a lot,” they are “happy no one was hurt.”

The DOB began demolition today, and will continue to investigate the structural instability of the building.