One Dead, Several Injured in New York Parking Garage Collapse

Facts

• On Tuesday, one person was killed while others remained trapped and injured following a parking garage collapse in lower Manhattan, New York City. All employees have been accounted for.¹
• The collapse occurred at a four-story parking structure located near Pace University and the New York Stock Exchange and prompted an immediate search and rescue operation by firefighters. After firefighters retreated, robotic devices were used to continue search operations in the rubble and debris.²
• Pedestrians in the area sought shelter in nearby businesses, and Pace University students and staff were evacuated. Mayor Eric Adams declared, "This building is completely unstable."²
• Forensic engineers are expected to complete a full investigation to determine the cause of the collapse, however, initial findings indicated the weight, number of vehicles, and age of the structure contributed to the collapse.³
• At a press conference, Kazimir Vilenchik, the city's buildings commissioner, said inspectors reported significant problems with the structure dating back to 2003. In 2009, they reported damage to the beams and the concrete, and in 2021 the building received two elevator violations; it’s unclear if any of the issues reported over the years were addressed.⁴

Sources: ¹New York Post, ²Reuters, ³CBS, and ⁴Gothamist.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Daily Dispatch. This is a tragedy, but New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and other officials have been doing what they can to increase building safety, including passing a 2021 law aimed at penalizing property owners who fail to correct building code violations. These fines, which could add up to $1K per day, should convince property owners to maintain a safe environment for residents and visitors.
• Narrative B, as provided by The Journal News. The new law has the right intentions but comes up short in its enforcement. Judges still have discretion on fines levied, so penalties can start as low as one penny, and are rarely issued. In addition, issuing fines after construction breeds a “build now, ask for forgiveness later” culture. This system is broken and out of touch, and more must be done.