Ten people were forced from their homes Friday after the rear wall of an abandoned property in Fort Greene suddenly collapsed, sending debris into neighboring yards and raising concerns about the stability of several nearby apartments.
The collapse happened late Friday morning, prompting a large emergency response. The Department of Buildings began to inspect nearby structures, National Grid crews dug into the street to check gas lines, and the Red Cross arrived to assist displaced residents.
Photos and video from a neighboring backyard show the entire rear-facing wall of the abandoned building sheared off, leaving the interior exposed and rubble scattered across the property. No injuries were reported.
Residents in adjacent buildings say firefighters knocked on their doors around 11:30 a.m., ordering them to evacuate out of concern that additional walls could fail.
For some who live next door, the collapse didn’t come as a shock. Lee Hunter, whose backyard borders the abandoned structure, said the building had been deteriorating for years.
“Not surprised at all. It’s been abandoned, in terrible shape, and the source of all the neighborhood rat problems,” Hunter said, adding that 311 previously documented extensive rodent burrows beneath the property. “This is nothing to play around with.”
A notice to vacate was posted on several nearby buildings, though officials have not yet released details about the conditions that inspectors found inside the collapsed structure or the surrounding homes and businesses.
The Department of Buildings is expected to provide additional information as the investigation continues.