Part of 57th Street has been shutdown due to an "unstable load" on a construction crane at Extell's luxury condo tower, One57. A tipster sent us this photo, show a large concrete cube hanging from the crane, which, according to DNAinfo, stalled in its ascent. The FDNY sent out a tweet that said "MAN ALL HANDS 157 W 57 ST, UNSTABLE LOAD ON CRANE" at 11:56 p.m., about 25 minutes after the surrounding streets were closed. No injuries have been reported, and it's unclear what caused the malfunction. For the neighbors, the situation is all too familiar. During Hurricane Sandy, a crane collapsed at the tower, and it dangled precariously for a week. NBC says the concrete box currently hanging over 57th Street weighs about 13,000 pounds. Earlier today, the Department of Buildings sent out a notice advising property owners to take precautions at building sites because of a weather forecast of high winds and extreme thunderstorms.
UPDATE 1:50 p.m.: The box is hanging about 20 stories above the street, and crews are still working to bring it down. West 57th Street is still closed between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. Michael Gross, who lives nearby and was evacuated during the Hurricane Sandy debacle, sent the above photo.
UPDATE: 4:10 p.m.: Around 3:30 p.m., the FDNY tweeted that the "unstable load" is "under control." The Times reports that "by late Monday afternoon" the concrete load had been lowered and 57th Street reopened.
· One57 coverage [Curbed]
Loading comments...