New York City regulators intensify scrutiny of office-to-apartment conversions following structural failure at 235 East 42nd Street
New York City officials have increased inspections of office-to-apartment conversions following a structural failure at the former Pfizer headquarters. The incident, which occurred on July 7, saw two structural columns buckle under the weight of a 14-story expansion, allegedly caused by a lack of reinforcing steel. This failure prompted the Department of Buildings to conduct a safety sweep of dozens of projects across the five boroughs. Regulators have issued several work stoppages this month. At 750 Third Avenue, a 34-story tower being converted into 678 apartments, work was partially halted due to unapproved steel column modifications. At 222 Broadway, a full stop-work order was issued because concrete beams cracked and were repaired without city notification. Another project at 77 Water Street faced safety issues, including uncertified machinery operators. While some residents, such as Jack Chen, expressed concern over the structural integrity of their buildings, others, like Sam Mannetti, remain confident in the building's maintenance. The Department of Buildings continues to investigate the exact cause of the failure at 235 East 42nd Street.