Stop Extell

These dramatic photos were taken by neighborhood resident Eric Larsen who was at the site shortly after the building collapsed.

As reported by Associated Press:

July 14th - At least five people, including an infant, were injured this morning when the former Gristedes supermarket at Broadway and 99th Street collapsed. The building was in the process of being razed by Extell Corporation to make way for a high rise apartment building.

A firefighter also suffered a broken ankle. All of the injured were taken to St. Lukes Hospital. Police department spokeswoman Dora Kalbouros said that a child was among the five people pulled from the rubble. She said that most of the injured suffered broken bones. The child was believed to be in stable condition.

Fire Department spokesman Frank Gribbon said that all 25 construction workers at the site were accounted for.

At least 30 fire department units responded to the collapse.

Gristedes spokesman Gerald McKelvey said the bulding was closed in April and was sold to the Carlyle Group.

• Here is a list of local city officials to contact about stopping the Extell high rises and to change the zoning laws.
  
  Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
  City Hall
  New York, NY 10007
  
  Phone: 311 or 212-NEW-YORK
  Fax: 212-788-2460
  Email: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html
  
  City Council Speaker Gifford Miller
  City Hall
  New York, NY 10007
  
  Phone: 212-788-7210
  Fax: 212-788-7207
  Email: miller@council.nyc.ny.us
  
  Councilman Bill Perkins
  163 West 125th Street, 7th Floor
  New York, NY 10027
  
  Phone: 212-662-4440
  Fax: 212-932-1130
  Email: perkins@council.nyc.ny.us
  
  
  Councilman Philip Reed
  105 East 116th Street
  New York, NY 10029
  
  Phone: 212-828-9800
  Alt. Phone: 212-788-6960
  Fax: 212-722-6378
  Email: reed@council,nyc.ny.us
  

Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields

1 Centre Street, 19th Floor

New York, NY 10007

Phone: 212-669-8300

FAX: 212-660-3380

Email: bp@manhattanbg.org

Amanda M. Burden, Chairperson

City Planning Commission

22 Reade Street

New York, NY 10007

Phone: 212-720-3300

FAX: 212-720-3219

Email: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/htoml/maildcp.html

Patricia J. Lancaster, AIA, Commissioner

Department of Buildings

280 Broadway, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10001

Phone: 212-566-0011

Email: http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/maildob.html

Make sure your voice is heard!

West Siders for Responsible Development, Inc. is an all-volunteer, grassroots organization but we need to raise money for hiring a real estate attorney and architect.
We are recognized as a not-for-profit organization by the IRS and by New York State.

Please make your check payable to West Siders for Responsible Development, Inc. and mail it to:

West Siders for Responsible Development, Inc.
P.O. Box 2059
New York, NY 10025

Your contribution will help us win this fight!

We've all seen the Safeway demolition signs and scaffolding that have recently been erected around the two brownstones on 99th Street and the once-stately townhouse on 100th Street. Extell's wrecking ball will be falling any day now. Here's a look at some of the buildings' architectural details and gems that our neighborhood will be losing forever.