A three-story apartment complex on the city’s north side partially collapsed yesterday. The resulting damage caused the city to send demolition crews for the building and surrounding homes.
Transcript
POLINA SHEMANOVA: A building collapse in the North Side of Syracuse puts surrounding homes in danger. NCC News reporter Michael O’Connor tells us how the city plans to demolish the building.
CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES DESTROYING BUILDING
MICHAEL O’CONNOR: That was the sound from the 400 block of Pond Street this morning, where workers from Ritter and Paratore Contracting were starting the demolition process of a partially collapsed apartment building. After yesterday’s collapse, fire officials determined that the three-story apartment building and adjacent homes would have to be torn down due to safety concerns. Ritter and Paratore superintendent Steve Brooks says despite the damage, things could have been much worse.
STEVE BROOKS: Well, the whole building could have collapsed! Fortunately, the rest of the building is in reasonable condition, and we should be able to get it down without any problems.
O’CONNOR: Brooks says there shouldn’t be any additional displacements as a result of the project. The demolition should only take a few days, with the cleanup expected to be completed after another week. Reporting live from the studio, I’m Michael O’Connor, N-C-C News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Demolition of a three-story apartment building and its surrounding homes began Thursday morning on the North Side of Syracuse.
On Wednesday morning, the Syracuse Fire Department responded to reports of a partially collapsed building at 413 Pond Street. After arriving to the scene, fire officials found portions of the building had fallen onto the house next door at 409 Pond Street.
Residents of the adjacent buildings were immediately evacuated, and officials set up a collapse zone to establish a safe perimeter and protect the public from potential debris.
Fire officials determined that the buildings needed to be torn down due to safety concerns. Workers for Ritter & Paratore Contracting were at the site early Thursday morning to begin the demolition process.
Part of the apartment building collapsed onto the adjacent house at 409 Pond Street, leading to the demolition of both properties.
Ritter & Paratore Superintendent Steve Brooks says that although they have to tear the buildings down, things still could have been much worse.
“Well, the whole building could have collapsed,” Brooks said. “Fortunately, the rest of the building is in reasonable condition, and we should be able to get it down without any problems.”
As a result of the destruction, five people have been displaced. One resident has already started a GoFundMe campaign for her and her son.
Brooks says he doesn’t expect the project to last very long.
“It’ll take approximately a week to get it down and then another week or week and a half to load it all out,” Brooks said.
The city will determine when the residents can return to their homes once the project is complete.