Manhattan High-rise Stabilized, Evacuations Partially Rescinded

WHO:

Fast Company - Nathan Berman, founder of MetroLoft, stated, “Ninety-five percent of the building, the structure is sound and intact.”

Fast Company - Emily Guglielmo, a structural engineer, indicated that the buckled columns are likely not repairable and will need to be removed and replaced.

AP News - Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that four nearby buildings remained under evacuation orders.

AP News - Elinor Ruskin, 94, was among those redirected by police after trying to get through a closed block.

MetroLoft - Nathan Berman, founder of MetroLoft, stated that the added weight from widening the top 15 or so floors of the building likely caused the damage.

AP News - Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that there has been no additional movement in the building since it was deemed stable late Tuesday.

AP News - Elinor Ruskin, 94, was among those redirected by police after trying to get through a closed block.

AP News - Anthony Williamson, an executive board member with Local 79 Construction and General Building Laborers, criticized the developers for using non-union workers.

Fast Company - Ahmed Tigani, commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings, stated, “We’ve been monitoring the building for many hours and have not seen any movement.”

Fast Company - Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the situation as “an extremely serious situation.”

Fast Company - Leila Bozorg, one of Mamdani's deputy mayors, said it was “encouraging” that the building did not appear to be shifting.

WTNH - City leaders in NYC expressed confidence in the ongoing stabilization efforts at the building.

Fox News - Officials involved in the evacuation and stabilization of the building.

WHAT:

CNN - The building is being converted into apartments, which is a more complicated process than building one from scratch and requires extensive structural, plumbing, and mechanical work.

AP News - The project will add 19 floors to the existing 10-story building at 219 East 42nd Street and renovate the neighboring 33-story tower at 235 East 42nd Street.

NBC News - The columns and beams that were impacted will be fully replaced once the Department of Buildings clears crews to do so.

Fox News - MetroLoft added roughly 18,000 square feet to 15 upper floors, and the additional load caused two columns to bend, with some floors sagging as much as four inches.

CNN - The project will add 19 floors to the existing 10-story building at 219 East 42nd Street and renovate the neighboring 33-story tower at 235 East 42nd Street.

CNN - The buckled columns may have been missed in the reinforcement process, according to Nathan Berman.

AP News - Temporary shoring and beams were installed on floors 18 through 23 of the building, with additional supports planned throughout the day.

AP News - The renovation project is creating approximately 1,600 units of housing, billed as the largest office-to-residential conversion in the city’s history.

AP News - A rigorous assessment by the city’s Department of Buildings will be conducted to ensure compliance with all codes before any non-emergency work proceeds.

AP News - Temporary shoring and beams were installed on floors 18 through 23 of the building, with additional supports planned throughout the day.

Gothamist - The emergency response included the evacuation of 148 guests at the Hampton Inn Grand Central.

AP News - Temporary shoring and beams were installed on floors 18 through 23 of the building, with additional supports planned throughout the day.

Gothamist - An emergency response to structural damage included the evacuation of 148 guests at the Hampton Inn Grand Central.

ABC News US - Crews worked overnight to shore up the under-construction apartment building after columns buckled and floors sagged.

AP News - Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed that four nearby buildings remained under evacuation orders.

AP News - Temporary shoring and beams were installed on floors 18 through 23 of the building, with additional supports planned throughout the day.

AP News - The renovation project is creating approximately 1,600 units of housing, billed as the largest office-to-residential conversion in the city’s history.

Fast Company - The building is being converted into luxury apartments and is the largest office-to-residential conversion in the city’s history, with more than 1,600 units.

Fast Company - The project has been fined for several safety violations, including incidents involving falling glass and metal.

CBS News US - Officials confirmed that some evacuations have been lifted after the building was stabilized.

Fox News - A visibly bent column on the 21st floor and sagging floors triggered a massive evacuation in Midtown Manhattan.

CBS News US - Some evacuations have been lifted after the building was stabilized.

WHERE:

AP News - The incident occurred in a high-rise building near Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

Fox News - The incident occurred in a high-rise building near Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.

WHEN:

Fox News - The evacuation occurred on a Tuesday morning.

WHY:

Fox News - Faulty columns supporting too much weight were to blame for the building’s structural damage.

AP News - Unionized construction workers protested against the developers for using non-union workers, claiming it contributed to the structural issues.

AP News - Unionized construction workers protested, claiming that the use of non-union workers contributed to the structural issues.

Fox News - The evacuation was prompted by fears of a potential collapse of the building.

HOW:

CNN - Shoring jacks are heavy-duty adjustable props used to temporarily support vertical structures such as ceilings, concrete slabs, and walls.

CNN - Workers are using emergency jacks and installing new steel supports to help stabilize the building.

CNN - Shoring involves installing four-legged scaffolding to temporarily carry the load that the structure is supposed to carry until the columns can be replaced.

AP News - A rigorous assessment by the city’s Department of Buildings will be conducted to ensure compliance with all codes before any non-emergency work proceeds.

Fast Company - Experts indicated that the buckled columns are likely not repairable and will need to be removed and replaced.

AP News - A rigorous assessment by the city’s Department of Buildings will be conducted to ensure compliance with all codes before any non-emergency work proceeds.

Fast Company - Experts indicated that the buckled columns are likely not repairable and will need to be removed and replaced.

WTNH - Stabilization efforts are underway at the high-rise with buckled columns.

WTNH - City leaders in NYC expressed confidence in ongoing stabilization efforts at the buckling high-rise that caused chaos across Midtown.

CBS News US - The building was stabilized by officials, allowing for the lifting of some evacuations.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 13:53 UTC)

A major renovation project is underway at 219 East 42nd Street, where the building will be converted into apartments, adding 19 floors to the existing 10-story structure and renovating the neighboring 33-story tower at 235 East 42nd Street. The project faced challenges when faulty columns, which were supporting too much weight, caused structural damage, leading to some floors sagging by as much as four inches. To address this, crews will replace the impacted columns and beams once they receive clearance from the Department of Buildings, using shoring jacks to temporarily support the structure during the repairs.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 06:18 UTC)

Nathan Berman, the founder of MetroLoft, confirmed that while ninety-five percent of the building's structure is sound and intact, the buckled columns are likely beyond repair and will need to be removed and replaced. The project aims to add 19 floors to the existing 10-story building at 219 East 42nd Street and renovate the neighboring 33-story tower at 235 East 42nd Street, though the buckled columns may have been overlooked during the reinforcement process. To stabilize the building, workers are using emergency jacks and installing new steel supports, along with shoring, which involves setting up four-legged scaffolding to temporarily support the structure until the columns can be replaced.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 04:16 UTC)

In Midtown Manhattan, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has confirmed that four nearby buildings remain under evacuation orders following structural issues at a high-rise near Grand Central Terminal. The renovation project, which aims to create approximately 1,600 housing units as the largest office-to-residential conversion in the city's history, has prompted protests from unionized construction workers who claim the use of non-union labor contributed to the problems. To address these concerns, temporary shoring and beams have been installed on the upper floors, and a rigorous assessment by the city’s Department of Buildings will ensure compliance with all codes before any further work can take place.

(UPDATED July 9, 2026 01:27 UTC)

Nathan Berman, founder of MetroLoft, has stated that the added weight from widening the top floors of the building likely caused significant damage, prompting emergency measures. As part of the response, temporary shoring and beams were installed on floors 18 through 23, and 148 guests were evacuated from the Hampton Inn Grand Central. Experts have indicated that the buckled columns are likely beyond repair and will need to be removed and replaced, while unionized construction workers protested against the developers for using non-union labor, which they claim contributed to the structural issues.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 20:23 UTC)

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has confirmed that there has been no additional movement in the building since it was deemed stable late Tuesday, while temporary shoring and beams have been installed on floors 18 through 23, with more supports planned throughout the day. An emergency response was initiated to address structural damage, leading to the evacuation of 148 guests at the Hampton Inn Grand Central, and unionized construction workers have protested, arguing that the use of non-union workers contributed to these issues. To ensure compliance with all codes before any non-emergency work can proceed, a rigorous assessment by the city’s Department of Buildings will be conducted.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 19:24 UTC)

Crews have been working overnight to stabilize an under-construction apartment building after structural issues caused columns to buckle and floors to sag, with temporary shoring and beams installed on the upper floors. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has confirmed that four nearby buildings remain under evacuation orders as safety measures are put in place. A thorough assessment by the city’s Department of Buildings will be conducted to ensure that all codes are met before any non-emergency work can continue on this significant renovation project, which aims to create about 1,600 housing units, marking the largest office-to-residential conversion in the city’s history.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 17:25 UTC)

In a developing story, Ahmed Tigani, the commissioner of the New York City Department of Buildings, reported that they have been closely monitoring a building undergoing the largest office-to-residential conversion in the city's history, which will feature over 1,600 luxury apartments. Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the situation as “an extremely serious situation,” while deputy mayor Leila Bozorg expressed some optimism, noting that the building did not appear to be shifting despite previous safety violations that included incidents involving falling glass and metal. Experts have indicated that the buckled columns in the structure are likely beyond repair and will need to be removed and replaced.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 16:30 UTC)

City leaders in New York City have expressed confidence in the ongoing stabilization efforts at a high-rise building with buckled columns. Officials have confirmed that some evacuations have been lifted now that the building has been stabilized. These developments come as the city continues to address safety concerns related to the structure.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 15:46 UTC)

City leaders in New York City are expressing confidence in the ongoing stabilization efforts at the buckling high-rise that has caused chaos across Midtown. The situation has drawn significant attention, and officials are working diligently to ensure safety and restore normalcy in the area. As the efforts continue, residents and businesses remain hopeful for a swift resolution to the challenges posed by the building's instability.

(UPDATED July 8, 2026 14:47 UTC)

A massive evacuation took place in a high-rise building near Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan due to fears of a potential collapse, triggered by a visibly bent column on the 21st floor and sagging floors. Officials worked quickly to stabilize the building, which has allowed for the lifting of some evacuations. The incident unfolded on a Tuesday morning, prompting a swift response from emergency teams.