NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) -- A 17-story office tower in midtown Manhattan was evacuated Tuesday on concerns over a weakened wall in its basement that was cracked and collapsing.
The building, home to the UJA-Federation of New York and located on 59th Street and Lexington Avenue, is adjacent to an empty lot that recently took on rainwater that saturated the soil, according to Fire Department spokesman Jim Long. The FDNY believes the soil is pushing on a non-load-bearing wall in the basement, he said.
“The building itself is structurally sound. It is not in danger of collapse,” Long said in a statement. “The structural support members are intact and not impacted. The compromised wall is an infill wall in the cellar.”
Officials are evaluating whether the property should be temporarily vacated to make repairs and ensure utilities aren’t affected as the wall is removed, Long said.
UJA “is working with local authorities to address the condition of a nonstructural, non-bearing wall in the basement of our building at 130 East 59th St.,” a representative for the group said. “FDNY has advised there is no concern about the structural integrity of the building.”
The building is also partly under construction as Citigroup Inc. renovates a storefront for a new branch office. It’s part of a stretch of storefronts on Lexington Avenue that have sat empty since the pandemic.
— With assistance from Natalie Wong