New York, NY – A building being demolished to make way for a luxury boutique hotel partially collapsed Friday in midtown Manhattan, killing one construction worker and trapping at least one other beneath the rubble, officials said.
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The Fire Department of New York says the collapse was reported just before 10:30 a.m. Friday at an eight-story building on West 38th Street. Fire trucks and ambulances were at the scene, where police had cordoned off the street where the collapse occurred.
But what exactly collapsed wasn’t clear from the street. Scaffolding and netting were still up on the building, and there was no sign of rubble or visible damage.
According to buildings records, the building is owned by Fortuna LLC. A woman who answered the phone at Fortuna Realty Group’s office declined to comment and referred calls to Northeast Service Interiors, a demolition company doing work at the site. Northeast said its owners were at the site and couldn’t immediately respond to a telephone call.
According to Fortuna’s website, it acquired the property in late 2012 and is planning a 27-story, 170-room luxury boutique hotel there. City Buildings Department records show a permit for full demolition of the existing eight-story building at that spot was issued in May. It appears some construction has been in the works since then – permits have been issued for sprinkler systems, electrical work and other things.
The buildings department says it’s on the scene investigating and doesn’t yet have details.
At least 60 firefighters responded to the collapse.