The collapse of the northeast corner of 1915 Billingsley Terrace on December 11, 2023, revealed faulty engineering plans as the cause of the incident. The investigation found that a cellar-level column was incorrectly identified as non-load-bearing in the engineer’s diagrams, leading to the collapse when workers began demolishing it. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, but over 100 residents were displaced, and newly released videos showed the harrowing event as it unfolded.
The report detailed how quickly the collapse occurred, with surveillance footage showing workers using a chipping gun to remove bricks from the column that eventually buckled. Despite initial claims by construction workers that they were not working on the column that day, video evidence contradicted their statements. The Department of Buildings did not issue enforcement actions but held the general contractor accountable for the site’s safety.
The building at 1915 Billingsley Terrace had a history of violations, with a previous designation of “unsafe” under the Façade Inspection Safety Program in 2020. Repairs were delayed due to the pandemic, and the 2020 report did not mention necessary repairs to the collapsed column. While the connection between the 2020 issue and the subsequent collapse was not clearly defined, the engineer responsible for the faulty identification was suspended and fined, while the construction company received violations for failing to secure the site.
Efforts have been made to aid displaced residents and improve building safety, with landlords agreeing to make repairs and rebuild the damaged section of the building. A lawsuit between tenants and landlords is ongoing, with repairs estimated to be completed by February. The Adams administration has introduced new legislation focusing on proactive building inspections to prevent future disasters, allocating funds to create a new inspection unit and provide outreach to the construction industry.
These measures aim to prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure the safety of residents in aging structures. The changes represent a shift towards a proactive approach to building inspection, moving away from reactive responses to structural issues. While the peace lost by the residents of 1915 Billingsley Terrace cannot be restored, steps are being taken to make New York City safer for all.