Parapet Crashes into Cars, Displaces
350 Residents of Homeless Shelter
By Sarah Ryley
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
PROSPECT HEIGHTS — The rooftop parapet of the former Ward Bread Bakery came crashing down on eight vehicles parked below today, and forced the evacuation of 94 families, and 350 people, living in the adjacent homeless shelter. There were no injuries.
The Ward Bread Bakery complex, built in 1911, is owned by developer Forest City Ratner, and is in the footprint of the 22-acre Atlantic Yards arena and high rise project. The building has been the focus of protests by preservationists who had tried to get it protected by city landmark status, and who disagree with the developer’s plan to replace the block with a large, surface parking lot during the first phase of the project’s construction.
“It took us by surprise, we thought it was a bomb in the building, it shook everything,” said Gloria Diaz, a social worker at the homeless shelter, Pacific Dean Residence. She said she accidentally inhaled dust that came pouring through the basement door when she opened it to see what happened.
Diaz said the shelter wasn’t warned of any potentially dangerous demolition. Hours after the collapse, families were still sitting on the sidewalk, waiting to find out where they would be taken.
Several onlookers complained that the developer removed protective sidewalk scaffolding months ago, which would have protected vehicles and pedestrians.
FDNY Deputy Chief James Nichols said the cause of the crash is still under investigation, but that it was most likely due to the recent heavy rain. “Fortunately, there was no one standing below, because they would have been seriously injured,” he said.
Workers were on the roof today morning conducting asbestos abatement. Erena Callista, who saw the incident from her office window at around 9:45 a.m., said the workers ran away when the heavy, tiled parapet came crashing down.
Nichols said he didn’t suspect “foul play” on the part of the developer, but others disagree.
“I find it ironic that for [96] years Wards Bakery stood without incident and that this collapse would happen at this time,” said Councilwoman Letitia James, D-Prospect Heights.
“It is also important to note that this is one of several incidents that have occurred in the footprint of the project,” said James, who is calling for a halt in all demolition at the Atlantic Yards site until the incident can be fully investigated.
Others said they suspected the developer purposely made the building collapse to speed the demolition process, in light of recent calls to halt the destruction of buildings for surface parking lots while the outcome of lawsuits against the project are still pending.
But to the families waiting on the sidewalk, with all of their worldly possessions still trapped inside the evacuated shelter, a hot meal and a safe place to sleep were the only things on their minds.
“I’m ready to cry,” said Shirley, who has been living in the shelter with her three kids for nine months. “This is my home right now, and I don’t know where I’m going to go.” Shirley said two of her kids go to school in the area, and she’s concerned they’ll end up someplace dangerous or far away.
Each of the families at the Pacific Dean Residence has their own studio and bathroom, with a door that locks. They could be temporarily transferred to a school, church or hotel reception hall, said Jean Sylla, a Red Cross senior official at the scene.
Sylla said Red Cross officials had briefly spoken to a Forest City Ratner representative, but had no details beyond that about how the developer would assist in relocating families.
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
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