By Phil Corso
A two-story unoccupied building with more than 30 open construction violations collapsed in Woodhaven Friday evening, temporarily shutting down J train service nearby, fire officials said.
Initial calls came in about the buckling commercial building at 78-19 Jamaica Ave. around 6 p.m., and after arriving, firefighters began their search for anyone who might have been trapped inside.
The FDNY said the roof had caved in but no one had been injured. They attributed the collapse inpart due to recent heavy rains.
Bricks and debris were strewn on the sidewalk after part of the former furniture store collapsed, damaging parked vehicles outside, the New York Post reported.
The nearby J train was shut down for several hours between 121st Street and Crescent Avenue, authorities said, out of fear that any further vibrations might cause the building to continue to crumble.
An evacuation order was issued for the second floor of the vacant building in February, according to city Department of Buildings records, citing “questionable construction methods.” The building also had a laundry list of more than 30 open violations with the DOB and another eight with the Environmental Control Board, including four total open “work without a permit” violations, the property listing with the DOB showed.
Officials said the DOB would investigate the building this weekend before deciding whether or not it would be demolished.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
