City changes crane inspection policy

Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster has announced that, until further notice, a buildings inspector must be on-site when a tower crane is raised or lowered. An inspection sweep of about 30 tower cranes will be completed by April 15, the Buildings Department said in a statement. The department confirmed that no permits have been approved for assembling or “jumping” cranes since the crane collapse at 303 East 51st Street on March 15, as reported yesterday by The Real Deal. TRD