New York City halts work at third commercial building being converted to residential

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- For the third time since steel columns buckled in the former Pfizer headquarters earlier this month, the New York City Department of Buildings paused work on a commercial building being converted into a residential building.

All structural steel work on the ninth floor and above was ordered stopped temporarily at 750 Third Avenue after a spot inspection found that welding splices on the reinforcement of several steel columns did not match the approved plans filed with the city.

Inspectors did not observe any damage, cracking, or other structural distress associated with this issue, the department said.

750 Third Avenue is the third building being converted from commercial to residential to have work at least partially paused over construction concerns since the failure of steel columns at 242 East 42nd Street.

Work at 222 Broadway was temporarily paused after the contractor failed to notify the city about two concrete beams on the top floor that had developed cracks in March and were quickly repaired.

The contractor considered the problem minor but the Department of Buildings said it should have been notified.

A partial stop-work order at 77 Water Street has been lifted.