Posted on 07/11/2026 11:55:18 AM PDT by MtnClimber
The developer of a sagging Midtown Manhattan skyscraper has been accused of carrying out unauthorized construction after two columns buckled and several floors collapsed.
The owner of the the 37-story office building on East 42nd Street performed construction that went beyond previously approved plans, according to a complaint filed by the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) on Tuesday.
Specifics of the complaint against the owner, listed as 235 Fee Owner LLC, are not yet publicly available but the DOB's portal stated that 'no support of excavation has been approved.'
Construction crews evacuated the skyscraper just after 8am Tuesday after they discovered that two columns had begun to buckle.
The 21st to 26th floors of the building near Grand Central Terminal caved in under stress, officials say. Multiple cracks and sagging floors have been reported throughout the high-rise.
Footage filmed by workers showed the massive silver beams on the 21st and 22nd floors buckling and bending just moments before the floor started to crumble.
The building remains unstable, but experts insist that any collapse would be localized and that, due to its steel supports, the high-rise won't come toppling down.
The skyscraper, which once housed pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, has been under renovation since 2024 and is being converted into a 1,500-unit luxury apartment complex.
The DOB has issued 22 violations at the address, dating back to 2022, according to the agency's public portal. A majority of the violations stemmed from failing to file elevator inspection and testing reports.
Thirteen complaints remain active, with 235 Fee Owner LLC owing the city $39,000 in penalties.
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Going to need some duct tape for that.
Video from inside showing buckled Columns
Midtown Manhattan high rise In danger of collapse
https://rumble.com/shorts/v7ce9kg
Columns buckling? Even without being hit by 727?
The building remains unstable, but experts insist that any collapse would be localized and that, due to its steel supports, the high-rise won't come toppling down.
How artful are they being?
The massive beams which are buckling and bending? Apparently these are "silver".
The reason the building won't come toppling down? Apparently the supports are "steel".
Do you see the difference? I'm not sure I do.
It’s a job for flex seal!
An expert in that field lives in the backwoods of Canada.
NYC should get in contact with him.
I was in that building a few times circa 1990. Seemed like a new clean modern building. Those bent beams look ancient.
The developer of a sagging Midtown Manhattan skyscraper has been accused of carrying out unauthorized construction after two columns buckled and several floors collapsed.
I think a more correct sentence would be
The developer of a sagging Midtown Manhattan skyscraper has been accused of carrying out unauthorized construction [prior to having] two columns buckle and several floors collaps[ing].
“The 21st to 26th floors of the building near Grand Central Terminal caved in”
No, not “caved in”. Just a few buckled columns is all. Nothing a torch, a come-along and some good steel workers can’t fix.
Then the foundation (at the bottom since it is the original building) is stable.
“Steel? Oh, those were supposed to be steel? Sorry, my bad...”
It looks like it is sagging at the top of the old part of the building. It is sagging, nothing has collapsed yet.
I’m a native New Yorker, and buildings in Manhattan built before, oh, say 2016 or so DO NOT COLLAPSE.
The surge in recent construction of very thin, very tall residential buildings and of “residential conversion” of office buildings has created a very unusual group of defective structures not fit for purpose.
WHAT WAS ORIGINAL HEIGHT OF THIS BUILDING??? HOW MANY FLOORS???
It looks like the height of the building built in 1960 was 33 stories.
The architect responsible for the modifications screwed the pooch.
There should be a closer investigation of the renovation plans and the removal of Structural supports.
Send AOC and Hochul inside the upper floors to consult with Mamdani. Tell them to push together on those beams and test to make sure they hold up. They can wear hard hats with Down With USA on them.
Didn’t someone say part was old and part was added on later?
Glad you made it out.
I don’t know how many times highways and freeways in Michigan have been found to age far more quickly than expected and the off the books excessive mix of gravel in the concrete was analyzed and found to be a case of deliberate cheating. They used the “Michigan has such hard winters and temperature changes it’s hard on roads” but then were exposed as fraudsters.
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