The 37-storey 1970s building is being converted into a residential development, but pictures through a window revealed an internal column looking precariously bent.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/skynews-new-york-building-collapse_7292713.jpg\")
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Image:
\n The building at 235 East 42nd Street is undergoing a major renovation. Pic: Reuters<\/p>\n
Fire chief John Esposito told reporters any collapse wouldn’t be “total” but “more of a localised collapse”.<\/p>\n
An inspection found two buckled columns on the 21st floor, as well as sagging floors and multiple cracks.<\/p>\n
However, no other movement was detected and the city’s buildings department said construction workers had begun emergency repairs.<\/p>\n
“We’ve been monitoring the building for many hours and have not seen any movement,” said department head Ahmed Tigani.<\/p>\n
By nighttime, residents were allowed back into some of the seven evacuated buildings, and workers could be seen shoring up the damage inside.<\/p>\n
Building department records show the project has previously been fined for safety violations, including falling glass and metal falling and an incident where a worker fell off a ladder.<\/p>\n
![\"Mayor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/skynews-mamdani-new-york-building-collapse_7292721.jpg\")
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Image:
\n Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke to media alongside fire chiefs. Pic: AP<\/p>\n
The developer Metroloft says it is part of the largest office to residential conversion in New York’s history and more than 1,600 units will be created.<\/p>\n