Spearheaded by the Manhattan district attorney\u2019s office and the New York City Department of Investigation, the inquiry is in its infancy and its ultimate focus remains unclear, The New York Times<\/a> reported Friday.<\/p>\n Untangling what went wrong at 235 East 42nd Street \u2014 an office tower in the midst of a conversion into luxury apartments<\/a> \u2014 and whether any individual or entity bears criminal liability could take years. Investigators may ultimately determine that no charges are warranted.<\/p>\n The disruption began Tuesday morning, when firefighters responding to the high-rise discovered buckled columns, visible cracks and sagging floors. Fearing a partial collapse, officials ordered evacuations of at least five buildings, displacing residents, office workers, and tourists, many of whom were left without access to their belongings. Traffic in the densely packed corridor ground to a halt as authorities shut down multiple blocks.<\/p>\n Through the night, crews worked to install temporary support beams, and by Wednesday, city officials said the structure had been stabilized. Inspectors and engineers remained on site to monitor conditions, while the Department of Buildings opened its own investigation into the incident.<\/p>\n The project \u2014 led by MetroLoft and David Werner Real Estate \u2014 was poised to become the largest residential conversion in the country, transforming the former Pfizer<\/a> headquarters into 1,600 apartments. As part of the overhaul, workers have been adding 11 new floors to an area that previously rose 22 stories, according to The Real Deal.<\/p>\n After the building\u2019s structural issues disrupted a bustling stretch of Manhattan – forcing evacuations that included a school of 400 children – the developer moved to downplay concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cThis incident is nothing more than a typical construction mishap,\u201d MetroLoft founder Nathan Berman told the Times. \u201cIt happens unfortunately far too often on construction sites: falling cranes, people \u2014 God forbid \u2014 falling off buildings, windows falling out.\u201d<\/p>\n Berman has also sought to reassure investors that the project remains on track for completion in 2027, two sources with knowledge of the matter told the Times.<\/p>\n By contrast, some city officials and union workers questioned how such significant problems \u2014 like crumpled columns \u2014 could have gone unnoticed. On Wednesday, demonstrators gathered near the site<\/a>, some holding signs reading \u201cCrime Scene\u201d and \u201c1,600 residential units at risk due to cutting corners.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey obviously didn’t add the right amount of steel, so the north side is crumbling,\u201d Steamfitters union representative Cliff Johnson told local media<\/a> last week. \u201cThe I-beams are bending like cigarettes in there, which is super dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the Department of Buildings, the tower has 44 prior complaints against it<\/a>, including an allegation in March that a worker was blowing material off the roof. In April, another complaint said there was \u201cfalling debris\u201d from the building, which an emergency response team later said they had not observed.<\/p>\n Office-to-residential conversions have become a centerpiece of Mayor Zohran Mamdani<\/a>\u2019s push to address the city\u2019s long-running housing shortage. His SPEED task force is attempting to accelerate the process, with a goal of shaving roughly five months off permitting timelines.<\/p>\n This week, Mamdani said a \u201cfull investigation\u201d would be conducted to determine what went wrong at 235 East 42nd Street. Asked whether the incident raised concerns about his push to streamline office-to-residential conversions, he responded that \u201cstreamlining and safety are not in tension.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-07-07T184725Z_915073761_RC269MA9Z43Z_RTRMADP_3_NEW-YORK-BUILDING.JPG\")
New York City officials have opened a criminal investigation into what triggered structural issues in a Manhattan high rise, issues that led to mass evacuations and street closures, according to a new report (Reuters)<\/p>\n![\"When](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/YouTube-Thumbnails-(33).jpg\")
When firefighters entered the building on Tuesday, they discovered buckled columns, multiple cracks and sagging floors (FDNY)![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2285106217.jpeg\")
The ensuing evacuations and street closures upended life for residents, workers and tourists, many of whom were unable to access their workspaces or belongings (Getty Images)<\/p>\n