This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

PHOTOS: Partial Building Collapse in Red Hook

Department of Environmental Protection sewer project undermines building, causes collapse

The digging of a sewer caused a building to partially collapse in Red Hook Friday morning.

The building, a live poultry market at 185 Columbia Street, has been evacuated along with the adjacent structures at 183 Columbia Street and 129 Degraw Street. No injuries were reported, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.

City workers are digging the new sewer to relieve sewage flows into the Gowanus Canal. The project is part of the a $140 million effort to rehabilitate the canal's flushing tunnel, coordinated by the DEP.

This morning, DEP workers were drilling into the sediment beneath Degraw Street when the soil began to shift. First the sidewalk sagged, and then brick wall of 185 Columbia began to buckle. At least one person had to be rushed out of the building before the wall came down.

Find out what's happening in Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Work on the sewer has now been suspended. "Other than immediate stabilization work, all work in that area has been stopped until DEP can fully review the cause of the incdent and make sure it doesn't happen again," said spokesman Farrell Sklerov.

Sklerov added that the city is reaching out to help the owner of 185 Columbia Street, whose building now must be demolished. There was no word as to when residents of 183 Columbia and 129 DeGraw can return to their homes.

Find out what's happening in Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill