No summer barbecues here/Flickr
In response to the tragic death of 24-year-old Connor Donohue in March, the Department of Buildings (DOB) has been conducting city-wide safety reviews of balconies and terraces. Donohue fell from his 24th-floor balcony at 330 East 39th Street when the railing gave way. DOB’s recent investigations at hundreds of buildings have found dangerous conditions across the city.
Orders were issued prohibiting residents from using their balconies at sixteen buildings—failure to comply can mean fines for the building management and/or the physical sealing of balcony doors. The DOB also found that about 800 building owners have not filed the proper balcony and facade inspection reports, which are required every five years.
At Co-Op City in the Bronx, balconies on seven buildings within the complex were deemed off-limits. DOB says that the city-wide review is still in its beginning stages, so you can bet more closings will likely occur.
As with the spate of construction crane collapses and other accidents, it’s great that the DOB is taking some action to try and remedy systemic failures—it’s just sad that it always takes the loss of life to spur action. As heftier city budget cuts are sure to come down the pike (and it always seems that it’s the people doing the groundwork at any city agency—inspectors and the like—who get axed first) we’ll have to see what, if anything, really changes.
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