City halts work on LICH building over safety concerns

Work at one of the buildings at Fortis Property Group’s controversial Long Island College Hospital redevelopment came to a halt Thursday, after the city shut it down due to plywood and other construction material flying off the roof.

The Department of Buildings issued a Stop Work Order Thursday morning, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported. The city’s Fire Department rushed to the site at 350 Henry Street in Cobble Hill, according to the publication, and found that plywood had blown off the building “hitting building across the street [and] damaging windows, light post and vehicle.”

The construction site wasn’t properly secured, despite warnings about expected high winds. The department also found to other violations at the project — failure to install fall protection for workers, and smoking at the site.

“Another day, another incident at the LICH site — this one both scary and dangerous,” State Sen. Daniel Squadron told the Brooklyn Eagle. “It’s another instance of our former health care facility becoming a development site that disregards and endangers the local community.”

Fortis paid $240 for the LICH site in 2014. As part of the megadevelopment, it is planning to build a 110-unit apartment building at 339 Hicks Street, according to plans filed in December. The Dumbo-based developer is also planning a 17-story, 46-unit building at 350 Hicks Street and a 15 story, 30-unit property at 347 Henry Street.

Last month, Cobble Hill residents claimed Fortis is breaking city rules and starting work as early as 5 a.m. at 339 Hicks Street. [Brooklyn Daily Eagle] — Miriam Hall