March crane collapse site permit revoked

The city revoked the construction permit on Friday for the high-rise building on East 51st Street where a tower crane toppled and killed seven people in March.

Building Permit Revoked at Site of Crane Collapse

Officials said that revised plans recently submitted by the developer did not resolve zoning violations that had led the city to question the project’s status even before the crane accident on March 15. The accident was the first of two fatal crane collapses this year that have raised questions about the safety of high-rise construction sites and the Buildings Department’s ability to oversee them amid a building boom.

The Buildings Department said the developer, James P. Kennelly, could either apply for a new construction permit or appeal its decision to the Board of Standards and Appeals.

Work has been stopped at the building site, at 303 East 51st Street, between Second and First Avenues, since the collapse, and the decision to revoke the permit suggests it could be a long time before construction resumes.