DOB evacuates Tribeca building on verge of collapse

17 Leonard Street and Steven Schnall
17 Leonard Street and Steven Schnall

The city Department of Buildings evacuated a near-vacant, three-story Tribeca building teetering on collapse.

The property at 17 Leonard Street, built in 1857 as a stable, is on the market for $15.7 million — but it’s also at the center of a dispute between two developers in the neighborhood. Over the last five years, the property has racked up almost $40,000 in fines, as well as violations and stop-work orders.

Landlord Christopher Rolf blames Steven Schnall, developer of an adjacent seven-story condominium building under construction at 11-15 Leonard Street, for the condition of 17 Leonard. Schnall, meanwhile, blames Rolf.

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Schnall’s workers said vertical cracks had expanded overnight at 17 Leonard. The Fire Department of New York and the DOB then stepped in, vacated the building and closed off part of the sidewalk. The property had one resident at the time of the city’s order, issued Dec. 7.

“It’s been damage after damage after damage,” Rolf told the Tribeca Trib. “I really don’t have the money to repair it so I don’t have much choice but to sell it.” [Tribeca Trib]Mark Maurer