We were deeply concerned to learn that a year and a half after city-approved work for a new tower replacing a landmarked building at 14 Fifth Avenue resulted in devastating destruction to the nearby landmarked 10 Fifth Avenue (1848), displacing long-term and elderly tenants, the city has granted permission for the developer to resume structural work on the planned tower. This is the same developer whose work also did grave damage to neighboring buildings at 644 East 14th Street. In spite of the passage of 18 months, 10 Fifth Avenue is still not repaired, and the tenants of the building have still not been allowed to return to their homes. Perhaps even more disturbingly, the city has so far not held anyone responsible for the damage caused by the work here or the breach of protocols from which it resulted. This is completely unacceptable.

The city claimed that following a growing number of cases of buildings being damaged or destroyed by construction work, they were implementing reforms to address gaps in the system and prevent destruction of vulnerable buildings. In fact, we have seen no improvements, no accountability, and no substantive changes in policy. The reality is that in Mayor Adams’ “City of Yes,” the mandate is to “Get Stuff Built,” no matter what gets knocked down in the process.