Falling Debris from Beekman Tower Closes Streets, Pace University in Lower Manhattan

The Office of Emergency Management advised Lower Manhattan residents to remain indoors after debris began falling from a...

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DNAinfo/Gabriela Resto-Montero

By Gabriela Resto-Montero

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

FINANCIAL DISTRICT — Residents and workers in the City Hall area were warned to stay indoors for fear of falling debris from the Frank Gehry-designed Beekman Tower Monday, the city's Office of Emergency Management said.

The warning issued by the city agency covered Church Street, Chambers Street, Ann Street, Gold Street, Vesey Street and Broadway.

High wind and rain sent construction debris flying from the unfinished 72-story luxury apartment building Monday, smashing windows at nearby buildings, including Pace University.

Pace canceled classes for the day. Evening classes were scheduled to take place as scheduled, the university said.

Pace also urged its students and faculty to remain indoors.

Police and fire officials closed Spruce Street between Park Row and Williams Street, and parts of Ann and Centre streets, to pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

The debris was identified as construction turnbuckles that were holding plywood pieces together at the construction site, the FDNY said.

The turnbuckles are hollow and about six to eight inches in length, according to Joyce Baumgarten, a spokesperson for the building's developer, Forest City Ratner.

The FDNY said there were no reported injuries from the falling objects.

The high wind gusts in the area loosened the turnbuckles, according to Baumgarten.

A wind advisory had been issued by the Buildings Department Sunday warning city construction sites to secure their equipment, according to Ryan Fitzgibbon, a spokesperson with the department.

Investigators with the department issued a full-stop on all construction on the building while they determined how and why the debris came loose, Fitzgibbon said. 

"We expect to issue violations," she said.

As soon as workers are allowed to return to the building they will replace the turnbuckles and hold them in place with wire, Baumgarten said.

Wind gusts between 60 and 70 miles per hour buffeted Manhattan during the incident. The National Weather Service issued a High Wind warning mid-morning, expecting the high winds to continue until 6 p.m. Monday.

Flying debris off of the Beekman Tower construction site has caused road closures around City Hall Park

Flickr user Joevare

The debris scare forced the rescheduling of a school rally outside City Hall, Gotham Schools tweeted.

Rachel Josephson, an assistant director of career services at Pace University, called for news of the closure from a Starbucks across from her building on Park Row.

“It looked like such a big deal,” she said of the fire and police trucks parked around the block.

Josephson eventually got word that staff were directed to work from home.

“I’ve got a lot of work to do," she said as she left the coffee shop.