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Building Where Falling Brick Killed 2-Year-Old Will Restore Facade: Source

By Emily Frost | August 7, 2015 7:30am | Updated on August 10, 2015 8:59am
 The facade will be restored after a tragic accident, a source said. 
The Esplanade
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UPPER WEST SIDE — The West End Avenue senior center where a brick fell and killed a 2-year-old girl in May will undergo a façade restoration, according to a source familiar with the plans. 

The brick came loose and fell from the front of The Esplanade at 305 West End Ave. on May 17, striking toddler Greta Greene. She died of her injuries a day later.

Greta was in a stroller next to her grandmother, who was sitting on a bench in front of the building at the time.

The morning after the brick fell, the Department of Buildings issued a permit and began erecting a sidewalk shed to protect pedestrians.

On July 8, the DOB issued a permit to the building to erect scaffolding on the side of the building. 

The scaffolding marks the beginning of the restoration and repair of the façade, according to a source who spoke only on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the plan. 

However, the building has not yet filed any permits for façade work with the Department of Buildings.

On the day little Greta was hit with a brick, the DOB immediately issued a violation of $1,000 for "failure to maintain building walls" to Esplanade Venture Partner, which is owned by the Scharf family.

As of Aug. 6, the Scharfs had yet to pay the violation.

A spokesman for the Scharf family did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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