BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — When tenants of 100 Clark St. came home from work Thursday evening, many of them no doubt were surprised to see a vacate order on their front door, a large chunk of the building’s façade on the adjoining Monroe Place fallen away, and a Red Cross van whose employees were eager to help them find temporary residences.

An online search of Building Department records later revealed that it had 15 complaints; 16 Department of Buildings violations, 10 of which are still open; and seven Environmental Control Board violations, including two for “work without a permit.”

In addition, several of the more recent violations mentioned serious structural violations, such as one for May 7 of last year, citing “cracks at various locations”; July 23 of this year, stating “brickwork bulging out of plumb” and a following one for July 28, for “failure to maintain the exterior of the building.”

Even Thursday, five new violations were posted at the building’s entrance, along with the vacate order. One witness, Joe Lamartina, who lives at 101 Clark St. across the street, said he was awakened around 9:30 in the morning with a big crash. One bystander was hit on the head with a brick and was lying on the floor, he said, but was quickly revived. The Fire Department later said there were no injuries.

Another resident of 101 Clark St., Jini Carridi, blames a truck for the mishap.

“I know what triggered it. This huge rumbling, thundering truck came by, and shook loose bricks, which led to most of the façade coming down,” she said. “That building is one of 500 Heights buildings that date back to the Civil War era — that’s why we shouldn’t allow these huge trucks on side streets.”

However, a resident of 100 Clark St., who would only identify himself as John, said the problems of the building go much further back. “For two years, the outside of the building has been noticeably bulging,” he said, while watching the scene from across the street.

Within an hour of the partial collapse, Clark Street resembled a Fire Department convention. An FDNY spokesperson later said that about 60 firefighters, in a dozen vehicles, had responded to the scene. Also there were inspectors from the Buildings Department, police officers, and representatives of the city’s Office of Emergency Management.

The Buildings Department Web site identifies the owner as Esti Brahner, of 1412 Avenue M in Midwood. Judy Stanton, executive director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, said, “Esti owns several buildings in the Heights, all of them in poor condition. This building has a ‘paper trail.’ We’ve complained to all of the regulatory agencies [about the building].”

About the façade collapse, she said, “It’s not a surprise.” Efforts to contact Ms. Brahner were unsuccessful.

The building, a former mansion, dates back to at least 1852, according to “Old Brooklyn Heights” by Clay Lancaster. John, the building resident mentioned earlier, says it was built in 1848. It once had a second entrance, known as 1 Monroe Place, but the door on that side has been sealed.

It’s now up to the building’s owner to correct the hazardous conditions, a Buildings spokeswoman said. In addition, an existing sidewalk shed must be repaired.

Diane Jackier, a spokeswoman for the Landmarks Preservation Commission, said the owners of 100 Clark St., which is within the Brooklyn Heights landmark district, had applied for a permit to do exterior renovation work, “but they were very slow in getting some of the needed information to us,” she said. “We had a meeting set up for September.”

© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2004
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