There are some residual delays on Metro-North this morning after yesterday's East Harlem building collapse that led to the suspension of all service in and out of Grand Central. The trains' speed restrictions were lifted at 6:30 a.m. and there may be 5-10 delays.
A crowd formed in Grand Central as commuters waited out the suspension or devised alternate routes to get home as the New Haven, Hudson and Harlem lines were all down. But after two-and-a-half hours, the service was back up and commuters packed train cars.
The building at 102 East 124th Street suffered a partial facade collapse around noon, and then the roof and top floor fell around 3 p.m. The neighboring building, 100 East 124th Street, also compromised and was later demolished. Both buildings, which were vacant, are owned by Kushner Companies - as in New York Observer owner's Jared Kushner.
Metro-North service had been suspended because authorities were concerned the trains' vibrations might cause 102 East 124th to collapse faster. Kushner spokesman Howard Rubenstein said the buildings were already, per the NY Times, "slated for demolition because bricks began falling from 102 East 124th Street a couple of days ago."
Kushner engineers apparently visited the site two days ago and was working to get permission to demolish them. Well, the Department of Buildings shows debris, including bricks, has been falling from the buildings for at least months, if not days (the last complaint is from January 8). Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer wants an investigation of all buildings with outstanding violations.
