Upper West Side Building Owner Charged With Violating Code in 2015 Death of 2-Year-Old

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The city has charged the ownership group of a building for violating building codes, a negligent act that eventually led to the 2015 death of a 2-year-old.

The Esplanade Venture Partnership and Alexander Scharf have been accused of violating city safety codes, the Daily News reported. The group owns The Esplanade, an Upper West Side senior home located on West End Avenue between West 74th and West 75th streets.

On May 17, 2015, 2-year-old Greta Greene was killed when she was struck by bricks falling from the building's facade, the Daily News reported. Greene was with her grandmother, Susan Frierson, who was also injured, according to the report.

Department of Buildings representatives told the Daily News that Scharf was notified of the dangerous conditions on the building's exterior, but failed to make repairs.

“When you own a building, you have a responsibility to maintain it — you don't just get to cash the rent checks and call it a day,” Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler told the Daily News.

>>> Read the full Daily News report here.

Photo: Google Maps street view circa September 2015