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Collapsed Parking Garage In Lower Manhattan and Violations Dating Back Decades
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The tragic collapse of a parking garage in Lower Manhattan has resulted in the death of one person and multiple injuries.
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The parking garage owned by 57 Ann Street Realty Association has had 64 violations dating back to 1976.
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Original documents obtained by Eyewitness News reveal that the parking structure was allowed to park cars from 1957.
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Despite the many violations, it is not yet clear why the four-story parking garage collapsed into the basement.
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Four of the violations are still open and unresolved, even though they were issued years ago.
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Four of the violations are still open and unresolved, even though they were issued years ago.
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The Department of Buildings Acting Commissioner Kazimir Vilenchik has stated that they will continue to review property files to understand the building's history and certificate of occupancy.
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One of the open violations, which dates back to 2003, is considered "hazardous."
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The violation reported a "failure to maintain building," specifically pointing out defective concrete with exposed rear cracks and slab cracks on the first floor ceiling.
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Other violations included defective exit lighting, broken and defective stairs, and a violation for not having a proper fire exit in a stairwell.
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City records show that the owner paid the fines totaling $2,550, but the cases were never closed.
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In 2010, when the owner applied for and received a new business license, there was no indication that the violations had been corrected.
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A new law has been passed requiring parking structures to be inspected every six years.
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The first round of inspections under the new law is currently taking place, but it is unclear when the last inspection of the collapsed parking garage occurred.
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The collapse happened on 57 Ann Street in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan.
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People were reported trapped inside the building, and six workers were inside during the collapse, with one worker tragically dying.
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Four others were taken to a hospital in stable condition, and another person refused medical attention.
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Firefighters initially went inside the building, but they were forced to pull out over safety concerns.
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A robot dog and a drone were sent inside to sweep the scene instead.
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The cause of the collapse is not yet clear, but the NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell has stated that there is no reason to believe this is anything other than a structural collapse.