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Residents Evacuated From Building Next to SoHo Condo Construction Site

By  Janon Fisher and Iris Mansour | September 19, 2013 7:27pm | Updated on September 19, 2013 8:21pm

 Residents of 188 Sixth Ave. were evacuated Sept. 19, 2013 after they said the building had shifted, according to an FDNY spokesman.
Residents of 188 Sixth Ave. were evacuated Sept. 19, 2013 after they said the building had shifted, according to an FDNY spokesman.
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DNAinfo/Iris Mansour

SOHO — Firefighters evacuated a six-story apartment building located next to a controversial construction site Thursday afternoon after getting a call saying that the building had shifted, an FDNY spokesman said.

There were no injuries and the Department of Buildings determined Thursday night it was safe for occupants of 188 Sixth Ave. to return, a structural engineer said.

"There was a little bit of movement, but nothing of substance," DOB engineer Timothy Lynch said.

In March, SoHo residents started a legal fund aimed at stopping construction just south of the evacuated building, at 180 Sixth Ave. The 87,000-square-foot mixed-use condo building planned there will be called One Vandam, according to recently posted signage and the development's website.

Locals said before construction began that they worried the work would destabilize adjacent buildings.

On Thursday night, tenants were relieved to be allowed back in their home.

"I'm happy to be going to my apartment. I think it will be okay, I'm not worried," resident Pat Place said.