One57 crane secured, surrounding buildings reopen

The saga of  One57’s disabled crane is coming to a close. The crane has been successfully secured and the surrounding buildings reopened. Workers spent the weekend using a a hand crank to rotate the cab and crane platform closer to the building. Once it was close enough, construction workers used steel cables and beams to tie the 150-foot boom to the building’s concrete columns. It may take days, or even weeks, for the giant boom to be lowered to the ground.

Despite accusations of negligence, the construction manager on the project, Land Lease, maintains that all the proper steps were taken to prepare for the storm and that the incident was unavoidable. That is also the position the Department of Buildings.

“I would like to commend our engineers and inspectors who have worked tirelessly with the project’s contractors to inspect the tower crane and approve a plan to secure the boom so New Yorkers can safely return to their homes and offices,” Buildings Commissioner Robert Limandri said in a statement.

Limandri went on to say that while buildings surrounding One57 will reopen, some may not yet have their utilities restored. And that the street on the north side of West 57th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues will remain closed. [NYM] —Christopher Cameron