Locals Flee Unstable Greenwich Village Building: Officials

GREENWICH VILLAGE, NY — Three Greenwich Village buildings were evacuated Friday after a five-story walk-up started leaning onto a neighboring property, according FDNY officials and city records.

The building at 139 Thompson St. between Prince and Houston streets was evacuated after a "concerned" engineer reported a problem about 1:30 p.m. Friday, the Fire Department spokesperson said.

A Department of Building records complaint said, "shoring is leaning into the neighboring building due to construction work."

Another FDNY complaint noted the "unstable" building would undergo inspection.

Two neighboring buildings to the left and right were also evacuated and DOB inspectors were called to the scene to investigate, the FDNY said.

No injuries were reported.

All three buildings are currently occupied, even as 139 Thompson St. underwent construction, according to the FDNY official.

Department of Buildings construction permits shows the manager of the building, S.W. Management LLC, had filed in March for structural work for first through fifth floors related to facade and roof replacement.

The Fire Department was still at the building and residents evacuated as of 5:20 p.m. Friday. DOB inspectors were at No. 139 Friday afternoon, and the investigation is ongoing, DOB spokesperson Andrew Rudansky said.

UPDATE: Tenants were allowed back into their buildings by Friday evening, DOB rep Rudansky said about 8:30 p.m. No vacate orders were issued from the incident. DOB issued a violation to the landlord for failing to provide unobstructed egress for tenants during construction and has ordered the landlord hire two fire guards for No. 139, according to Rudansky.