Fires - full coverage from Curbed NY

Fire!!!: Pier 17 has had some difficulty...

2012-07-15T15:00:15Z

Pier 17 has had some difficulty attracting shoppers in the past. Maybe it's just not an exciting enough place. But what if it was ON FIRE? The pier tried that out yesterday and found that it's actually even more difficult to attract shoppers when they're all fleeing in terror. The fire started around 4 p.m. under the pier and was quickly dealt with by firefighters, who cut through the decking to reach the flames underneath. The pier has since been assessed by the Buildings Department, which determined that it is both structurally sound and not on fire any more. Guess it's back to the drawing board. [NYT]

Fire!!!: The Roof Is On Fire in Robert De Niro's Apartment

2012-06-09T16:45:48Z

Robert De Niro has once again proven that celebrities are regular old people—they set their Upper West Side apartments on fire by failing to clean the lint filters in their dryers just like the rest of us! The fire in De Niro's fifth floor apartment in The Brentmore this morning (looks like Sting got out just in time) spread throughout the entire floor and damaged parts of the sixth floor, as well. Considering how much those apartments go for, that's a lot of damage. De Niro is currently out of the country, and, luckily, no one was hurt, but somebody really needs to teach these rich people about fire safety. "I'm lucky the elevator still worked. That's how I was able to get out," said one resident. The elevator? Lady, what are you doing? Everybody knows to take the stairs in a fire! Next you'll be telling us that you don't even know about Stop Drop and Roll. "I was lucky the wind was blowing really hard, because when I caught on fire I was able to put it out by running around really fast and waving my arms."

]]> Probably the best part of the NY Post article is that it ends with a quote from Nathan Bear, a guy who happened to be outside the building when the fire happened. "When [Robert De Niro] finds out about this, he's not gonna be happy," Bear said. Excellent point, Nathan Bear! It is a well-known Robert De Niro fact that he hates when his apartment catches on fire. And well done, NY Post reporter, for getting Nathan Bear's crucial take on how Robert De Niro will probably feel about the fire. And well done, Robert De Niro, for never cleaning out that lint filter and allowing your apartment to catch on fire. Good job all around.
· Robert De Niro Coverage [Curbed]
· The Brentmore Coverage [Curbed]
· De Niro building ablaze [NYP]

Dirty Laundry Day: Harlem Condo Building Gets Toasty, Neighbor Gets Roasty

2011-04-29T16:31:24Z

Our Dirty Laundry Day 2011 kicks off with this tipster report from Harlem:

I was visiting The Douglass (2110 Frederick Douglass Boulevard) and found out that on Wednesday mid-day, there was a fire in the basement of the new SoHa condo building. Six inches of water was in the basement, which includes tenant storage areas...

But what you should really know is that there was also a CRAZY fire in the building behind The Douglass -- i.e. the building all the units look out on. And so now the view is of this crazy abandoned blown-out building with no windows and like mattresses dangling out the empty windows (pics above). And it has been a month since the fire! My friend's terrace looks right at it, too, and calls to 311 and the Buildings Department have done nothing. Pitfalls of gentrification, I guess.

A tiny fire and an ugly view? Dirty Laundry Day ScandalMeter: 2/10.
· The Douglass coverage [Curbed]
· Dirty Laundry Day [Curbed]

CurbedWire: New Coney Island Condos; Fatal Fire at Illegal Apartment

2011-02-17T22:13:05Z

CONEY ISLAND—Has the Coney Island real estate boom already started? The city's redevelopment plan will plant several high-rises near the amusements, but Amusing the Zillion reports that a small 11-unit building is currently under construction on the western end of the boardwalk at 32nd Street. Prices start at $685,000, which sounds pretty high, but hey, we're talking beachfront condos here! [Amusing the Zillion]

EAST NEW YORK—A fatal fire way out east in Brooklyn at 568 Drew Street today has Department of Buildings commish Robert LiMandri renewing his warning about illegal apartments: "Our inspectors have determined the cellar of this two-story building was illegally converted into an apartment, and it appears the lack of a second means of egress prevented the resident from escaping during the fire. This tragedy could have been prevented, which is why we continue to educate New Yorkers about the signs and dangers of living in these illegal dwellings." [CurbedWire Inbox]

Video Interlude: Greenwich Village Manhole Fire Snaps, Crackles & Pops

2011-01-03T18:02:34Z

Manhole explosions, underground fires and other scary subterranean events have become a way of life in the Big Apple, and this video is proof. Watch as flames shoot up from the corner of Bleecker and Leroy Streets on the night of January 1st while cabs nonchalantly drive by, and the cameraman gets closer instead of shrieking like a little schoolgirl. Also strange: The fire has more rhythm than one of those subway bucket drummers.
· Video: Exploding Manhole [YouTube via GammaBlog]

Tragedies: Here's Proof That Christmas Decorations Can Be Deadly

2010-12-20T18:26:41Z

[Photo by Jonathan Mena for BushwickBK.]

According to BushwickBK, the three-alarm fire that destroyed a rowhouse at 201 Menahan Street and damaged two others last Thursday night was sparked by an inflatable Santa Claus and a mechanical reindeer, though it's not clear what made them so angry in the first place. No one was hurt, but at least 21 residents had to be relocated.
· House Destroyed in Christmas-Light Fire [BushwickBK]

DisasterWire: Not Even the Smoke Monster Can Stop HL23's Ascent

2010-05-17T15:41:40Z

Forgive us for delving into Fireblog territory here, but when we receive a distress call about flashy West Chelsea starchitecture, we spring into action. A tipster writes, "Any info on the fire at HL23 yesterday afternoon? Black smoke was billowing from a high floor, and the FDNY came out in full force - 10 fire trucks, 2 ambulances, 3 or 4 other trucks. The block was closed for about an hour." For the love of Kanye, what happened?

According to a building rep, a tool charger left plugged in at the site sparked, and apparently kept sparking, causing a whole lot of smoke but no fire. This happened right before a bunch of stuff that could have been affected by the smoke—finishes, floors, etc.—got installed. There was no damage to the building beyond the emotional toll of going the next five years wondering what, or who, the black smoke really is.
· HL23 coverage [Curbed]
Photo via Flickr/dicegirlsnapz

Chelsea in Flames: A manhole explosion led to a...

2010-02-11T17:09:30Z

A manhole explosion led to a transformer fire led to a crazy huge fireball mere steps away from the golden domes and luxurious lofts of Sixth Avenue's O'Neill Building, as this wild photo on Daily Intel confirms. Reports are that a Radio Shack store took the brunt of the damage, and Gawker has aftermath pics of the charred exterior of the building between 19th and 20th Streets. [Daily Intel]

Unlikely News Breakers: "Movie theater on court street is...

2009-08-04T19:24:01Z

"Movie theater on court street is on fire!!"—@schnitzeltruck [Twitter]

Starchitecture Under Siege: As if starchitects didn't have enough...

2009-05-11T17:01:35Z

As if starchitects didn't have enough to worry about nowadays with rising construction costs and fewer commissions, now their big projects in China keep catching fire. The latest is Zaha Hadid's Guangzhou Opera House, currently under construction, where flames over the weekend caused an undetermined-as-yet amount of damage. Of course, the blaze has nothing on Rem Koolhaas's epic Mandarin Oriental fire in Beijing. Add another one to the list! [ArchPaper]

CurbedWire: Madison Square's Blue Period, Car Toast-a-Thon

2009-04-29T22:01:17Z

[Photos by Alan Miles]

FLATIRON—The assembly of...whatever's being assembled in Madison Square Park continues apace. New art installation of some sort? Perhaps. Though it looks like it would make one crazy fashion show runway. [CurbedWire Inbox]

CLINTON HILL—Been almost three weeks since we got a look at a freshly charred automobile. The latest comes from Brooklyn, where a tipster writes, "Park btwn grand and ryerson...under the BQE. Smelled fresh. During this economic climate people should really be torching American cars." Isn't that like burning the flag? See the wreckage after the jump. [CurbedWire Inbox]

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CurbedWire: Williamsburg Finger Building Burns on TV, Trump Place Changes With the Times

2009-04-16T21:25:47Z

WILLIAMSBURG—Our use of the Finger of Richardson, aka 214 Richardson Street, aka Luminous to illustrate today's update on the Williamsburg-Greenpoint rezoning story yielded this amusing observation from a special Curbed tipster: "FYI: This building was ablaze in April 7th's season premiere of Rescue Me." Screenshot above! [CurbedWire Inbox]

UPPER WEST SIDE—A tipster points us to a Craigslist listing for a rental at Trump Place, noting the language used: "We are changing with the times and dropping rents due to the Economy." There's been a bit of back-and-forth on the complex's vacancy rate, and our tipster adds, "Interesting marketing technique from the same people who just a couple of months ago told Curbed that rent levels were holding strong or whatever." [CurbedWire]

Car Toast-a-Thon: Extra Crispy on the Upper East Side

2009-04-09T14:45:13Z

Above, the fresh remains of the latest burn victim, at York Avenue and East 60th Street near the Queensboro Bridge. The work of another nutjob? That's what they want you to think, but we know the truth. More photos at NYC Grid, but we couldn't resist sharing one more to prove the evil intentions of the cyborg army.

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· Burned-out Car on York & 60th St [NYC Grid]
· Toasted Cars coverage [Curbed]

CurbedWire: 100 Gold Construction Watch, Marriott Unsinged

2009-03-26T21:51:40Z

VINEGAR HILL—A special Curbed tipster sends along a current construction shot of yesterday's Development Du Jour, 100 Gold Street. Any Chinese government officials considering purchasing an apartment in the building should be aware of the Tibetan Center next door. [CurbedWire Inbox]

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN—More info now on that fire first believed to be at the Brooklyn Marriott, via a statement from Muss Development: "A minor electrical fire at Renaissance Plaza, an office building at 335 Adams Street in Brooklyn, occurred today in an electrical closet on the 21st floor of the building. The fire was quickly extinguished. The adjoining but separate Marriott Hotel was unaffected. The building was evacuated in an orderly fashion and there was no major damage. Repairs to affected equipment will be made in as timely a fashion as possible." Phew! NYU seniors, your parents can still stay there for graduation. [CurbedWire Inbox]

CurbedWire: Fire at Brooklyn Marriott at 335 Adams

2009-03-26T17:52:00Z

[Photo by Curbed tipster Michael Auerbach]

A tipster emails, "335 Adams st evacuated. Lots of cops/fire. Some say fire on 22nd floor. Traffic backed up on Adams." And while not every fire is our beat, it's something when the Brooklyn Marriott, everyone's favorite place to park their parents, is the place on fire. Per BNO News, "A spokesman said emergency services are responding to the incident and multiple people were being treated for injuries, most of them were believed to be minor and related to smoke inhalation." Developing...
· Fire Breaks out at NYC's Marriott Hotel [Thaindian News]

UPDATE: Sez a commenter, "If it's on the 22nd floor it ain't the hotel, it's the DA's offices."

CurbedWire: Cheerleaders! Fires! It's March Madness, Baby!

2009-03-19T21:32:06Z

CHELSEAISH—Long-suffering 14th Street condo building The Prime had carolers during the Holiday season to attract some attention, and for March Madness, well, we think you get the idea. And yes, the press release did say that The Prime is "a slam dunk for any buyer!" [CurbedWire Inbox]

EAST VILLAGE—Speaking of March Madness, hopefully you didn't ditch work to take in the day's action at Avenue B sports bar Croxley Ales. A tipster sent along photos of a blaze that broke out above the bar and writes, "It appears that no one was hurt i the 4 alarm blaze thanks to the Fire Department's speedy response (they were on the scene within 4 minutes). I have no idea how the blaze started but would be curious to know if someone out in TV land has some details." Maybe an angry gambler setting fire to a busted bracket? [CurbedWire Inbox]

LONG ISLAND CITY—When will the Gossip Girl-does-Long Island City episode air? The show previously did some filming in one of the EastCoast buildings along the waterfront, and now a tipster writes that the show has come back for more: "Goss Girl was taping at the east coast building (the one across the street from the view) last week." And when it does finally air, they'll probably say it's Williamsburg. [CurbedWire Inbox]

Car Toast-a-Thon: Upper West Side Crime Spree Edition

2009-02-19T12:38:06Z

Last Friday, when a Curbed tipster sent us some dramatic photos of a burned-out Volvo on Broadway and 87th Street with what appeared to be a stack of papers placed in the wreckage, we thought, hey, that's weird—save it for the toasted cars file. Little did we know this was a burgeoning Upper West Side arson spree. The Times reports that three similar car fires have occurred over the past two weeks, most recently early Wednesday morning at Central Park West and 105th Street. According to police, rambling notes left at two of the scenes contained references to "mind control," being "sexually disrespected" and complaints about the courts—clearly the work of a disturbed individual, or a rather intense viral marketing campaign for the release of Watchmen (Rorschach's journal, anyone?). Whatever it is, the controversial closure of the Apthorp's parking garage now seems a bit untimely.
· Officials Investigate String of Car Fires Near Central Park [NYT]

UPDATE 10:45 a.m.: WABC reports a suspect holding "flammable liquid" was arrested at 3 a.m. this morning at Central Park West and 83rd Street.

Starchitecture Under Siege: The Top Ten Recent Disasters

2009-02-17T17:54:21Z

Jeez Louise, all these buildings catching fire have gotten us thinking about the vulnerabilities of new construction. Without active sprinkler systems—and with spontaneously combustible hazards lying around—it doesn't take much to do a number on these buildings. But starchitecture is different! It takes more than just some rags and cleaning fluid to ruin the world's man-made wonders. It takes forces of nature! Wind! Rain! Uh...negligence! Fireworks! Martha Stewart! And so we bring you our gallery of the Top Ten Starchitectural Disasters (of Recent Memory). Bring the pain!

510 Madison Avenue Fire: In Progress & Aftermath

2009-02-11T18:04:37Z

While not as spectacular as the fire that decimated Dutch starchitect Rem Koolhaas's Mandarin Oriental hotel in Beijing, the blaze late Monday night at the under-construction office tower at 510 Madison Avenue was at least closer to home. The Post's Lois Weiss reports today that a Macklowe Properties spokesperson said the fire was electrical, and an engineer has declared the property "structurally sound." Still, there is significant damage to the 30-story tower's base, including plenty of blown-out curtain wall and melted mullions. Only two tenants have signed in for space in the building, and build-outs were scheduled to begin next month.

We dispatched Curbed photographer Will Femia to get some fresh shots of the scene at Madison and 53rd this morning, and the results are presented above. Also in the gallery, some dramatic camera-phone shots from a Curbed tipster who happened by the building while it was still up in flames.
· Between the Bricks [NYPost, second item]
· CurbedWire AM Special: Fire at 510 Madison Avenue [Curbed]

Curbed International Coda: The Morning After in Beijing

2009-02-10T20:27:22Z

The morning-after photos from yesterday's massive blaze at architect Rem Koolhaas' hotel addition to his iconic, twisted CCTV project in Beijing, China, are transfixing; in particular, check out the Flickr photostream of funzheado, from which the above image yields. The fire, which was alledgedy started by revelers playing with fireworks, has also brought out critic Paul Goldberger, who files for the New Yorker thusly: "The slab, which was to have contained a Mandarin Oriental Hotel, was expected to open this summer, but it will probably now have to be entirely rebuilt." You... don't say?

]]> Speaking of Goldberger, we really can't decide which of these three quotes from his piece today is our favorite:

1) "Probably not since a gunman went on a rampage at the Frank Gehry-designed business school at Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, a few years ago has there been such an intimate connection between cutting-edge architecture and catastrophe."
2) "But what does all of this have to do with the fire? Not much, I would suspect, although apparently the orange flames of the fire looked quite spectacular reflected in the tower’s smoky gray glass."
3) "How much more wonderful if this could be the sign they have been waiting for, the burning bush sent to show us how dangerous it is to worship architectural icons. Rem would see the light, he would repent and begin to design dull buildings. And all would be well."

Even more genius? The work of Flickr user kallgan, who uploaded these exclusive images of the fire:

What hath Rem wrought? Regardless, click through for more war.
· Burning Koolhaas Down [New Yorker NewsDesk]
· CCTV Fire Photos [Flickr/fuzheado via Dezeen]
· War for CCTV [Flickr/kallgan]

CurbedWire AM Special: Fire at 510 Madison Avenue

2009-02-10T12:24:58Z

MIDTOWN—Macklowe Properties' 510 Madison Avenue, the speculative office tower with the 20-yard swimming pool that was one of Harry Macklowe's last big gambles before the company's debt blew up in his face and his son took the reins, suffered what looks to be a pretty serious fire last night. A Curbed tipster sends in the above photo from the construction site at Madison and 53rd Street, adding, "First 4 floors completely roasted." A scan of the news this morning doesn't turn up much info, though Gothamist's news map does have an entry for a three-alarm fire at the address at 1:36 a.m. Here's the building's official site. [CurbedWire Inbox]

Curbed International: Koolhaas Tower Burns Bright in Beijing

2009-02-09T20:30:36Z

We mentioned it earlier, but here's the best perspective shot we've seen yet of the massive fire gutting architect Rem Koolhaas' CCTV Tower companion hotel today in Beijing. Check the whole photogallery at Daylife; this video is also worth a watch just to appreciate the raw intensity of this inferno.
· CCTV Photostream [Daylife via greg.org]
· Fire in the center of Beijing [iReport.com]

CurbedWire: Midtown Building is HOT, Chelsea Piers is Sinking

2008-08-28T21:06:34Z

MIDTOWN—A tipster sends in the above shots, noting, "Midtown building on fire?! 39th and Madison. Looks to be about 20th floor?" Holy crap, Midtown inferno!!! Well, maybe not. One minute later, that same tipster noted, "Seems to be under control." [CurbedWire Inbox]

CHELSEA—More chaos!!! This time at Chelsea Piers, where a tipster writes, "I heard that as of 10pm last night (10/27/08) Chelsea Piers (or at least the Sky Rink, Pier 62) has been closed after being determined to be structurally unsound." Gothamist couldn't get a comment out of the Piers peeps, but the rink is "closed for repairs." [CurbedWire Inbox]

CLINTON HILL/FT. GREENE—The four-legged friends of Brooklyn need more places to run around and sniff each other, a reader tells us. "Clinton Hill and Ft. Greene needs a dog run. The off leash hours in Ft. Greene park are great, but insufficient for many of us. Besides the hours being inconvenient for many, not all dogs can be trusted off leash in an unconfined space. I in no way wish to undermine the off leash hours at Ft. Greene Park. I just think a dog run in the neighborhood would be a wonderful addition." Agree? Here's the Google group set up to rally support. [CurbedWire Inbox]

It Happened One Weekend: City's Worst Dog Run ID'd

2008-08-11T12:49:06Z

1) What happens when two—or, goodness, more than two—apartments are for sale in the same building at the same time, such as the duo at right on East 88th Street? Proclaims one broker, darkly, "It's like when you walk into a party wearing the same dress as someone else, you get uncomfortable." Mmmhmm. But everything can be okay if the sellers learn to stop hectoring each other and team up; "[it] might also cut down on slander and other forms of internecine warfare that can occur when competition lies too close to home." ['Neighborly Competition'/NYTimes]

2) Manhattan borough president Scott Stringer calmly announces that 800 Manhattan buildings are fire risks. [NYDailyNews]

3) A photographer's Manhattanville photos may be the last
reminder of the soon to be Renzo Piano-fied Columbia expansion. Come, take a journey back to the age of 2002 and the timeless Harlem Bait and Tackle Shop. [NYTimes]

4) In re: the Brooklyn neighborhood Gravesend: "Sephardic Jews would rather pay a million dollars for a 2,000-square-foot lot in Gravesend than pay $500,000 for a 4,000-square-foot lot elsewhere." Zany! ['Living In'/Jake Mooney]

5) The worst dog run in the city is in Woodside. [NYTimes]

6) "I went in, and I went with it." Holy crap, this guy fell through a sidewalk subway grate! And he's fine! And with that, we're ready to start our week. [NYDN]