Collapsed parking garage in Lower Manhattan had violations dating back decades
LOWER MANHATTAN, Manhattan (WABC) -- A partially collapsed parking garage that led to the death of one person and several injuries in Lower Manhattan had dozens of parking violations that date back decades.
The parking garage owned by 57 Ann Street Realty Association, based in Great Neck, had 64 violations with the New York City Buildings Department dating back to 1976.
Eyewitness News obtained the original documents for the parking structure, which was first allowed to park cars back in 1957.
It's not clear yet why the four-story parking garage collapsed into the basement, but four of the violations are still open and unresolved, even though they were issued years ago.
"We're going to continue to review and research property files to try to understand the history of the building, certificate of occupancy and lots of records," Department of Buildings Acting Commissioner Kazimir Vilenchik said.
The most egregious of those open violations dates back to November 25, 2003, with a severity level considered "hazardous."
WATCH | FDNY update on parking garage collapse
According to the violation, when the inspector went to the property at the time, they notated a "failure to maintain building," specifically pointing out the first floor ceiling which had slab cracks, defective concrete with exposed rear cracks.
Other violations included defective exit lighting in 2003, broken and defective stairs in 2009 and a violation for not having a proper fire exit in a stairwell back in 2013.
In all four of the cases, city records showed the owner paid the fines, a total of $2,550, but the cases were never closed. They remained open on Tuesday.
ALSO READ | 'I'm in shock': Residents shaken by deadly parking garage collapse
"There are some active violations on the building that date back to 2003 but in 2010, there was an application filed which did not indicate a violation was corrected but it was filed," Vilenchik said.
That means back in 2010, when the owner applied for and received a new business license, there's no indication those cracks, stairs and lighting issues had been corrected.
The city office that gives out business licenses is a different city office that inspects buildings.
A new law was passed recently, requiring parking structures to be inspected every six years. The first round of inspections under that new law are currently taking place. The city hasn't said when the last time this parking garage was inspected or what they found.
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
