Fort Greene Buildings Evacuated After Cracks Found In Foundation

FORT GREENE, BROOKLYN — Residents of two Clermont Avenue buildings were ordered to leave their homes Tuesday after inspectors found cracks in the foundations, officials said.

Department of Buildings inspectors rushed to 68 and 70 Clermont Ave. at about 8:30 a.m. after tenants reported to FDNY that the building seemed to be swaying, according to the DOB and a News 12 report. FDNY had evacuated the building as a precaution before inspectors arrived.

Resident Terrance Lawrence told reporters he slept in his car because he heard the building making popping noises and became terrified it would collapse.

"I was so afraid and scared," Lawrence said.

Inspectors issued vacate orders to 18 residents after they found the exterior facade had shifted and that there were cracks inside the two buildings, including around a staircase inside that leads up to the upper floors, according to the DOB.

DOB issued several violations to owners — whom city records show to be Henry Glenroy and a company called 70 Clermont Ave, LTD — for failure to maintain the buildings, both of which have received previous violations, inspectors said.

The most recent violation was issued to 70 Clermont Ave. for cracks in the facade in November, 2018, city records show.

The building owners are legally required to fix the structural damage and construct a sidewalk shed to protect pedestrians from potential collapses, according to the DOT.

"Until the Department has determined the violating conditions have been corrected, and the buildings are safe for tenants to occupy, the vacate order will remain in place," DOB said in a statement.

DOB will continue to investigate and monitor the site to make sure the building owner complies with the orders, the representative said.

The Red Cross was brought on scene to help those who needed assistance relocating.

Patch was not immediately able to reach the building owners for comment.

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