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Hackensack Discussion / PARKING GARAGE COLLAPSE AT 300 PROSPECT, 2 MISSING
« on: July 16, 2010, 12:45:28 PM »
http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/071610_Parking_garage_collapses_in_Hackensack.html
HACKENSACK -- The fire department is searching for two missing people in a collapsed parking garage at Prospect Towers, an 18-story apartment building.
Family members told police the two missing residents were leaving the building at 300 Prospect Ave. when the garage collapsed. They are feared entrapped in the garage.
The above-ground portion of the garage, the glass atrium of the building, and a winding drive into the garage came crashing down onto the garage’s two underground levels, police said. It is unclear what caused the collapse.
Ben Feldman, a spokesman for the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department, said he saw three cars that were parked on the winding drive that had plunged into the underground garage.
Residents as high as the 18th-story of the building felt it shake for a full three minutes before the collapse.
“I thought it was an earthquake or a plane hit," said Chris Baldo, a first-floor resident. "It sounded like the whole building was collapsing. I grabbed my dog and my mom and ran out. I looked outside and watched everything go down."
The building and the building next door at 310 Prospect Ave. are being evacuated. Police believe about 100 people live in each of the high-rises.
Prospect Avenue between Central Avenue and Passaic Street has been closed. People who live in the area are being asked to stay away; parking will be provided for them at the high school. Bus shuttles will be provided later in the day from the high school to the building.
Stephen Lo Iacono, the city manager, said city engineers are on the scene to determine whether the building is structurally sound.
Police Capt. Tomas Padilla said he is evaluating whether the police will need to use the Civic Center as a shelter later for residents.
“It looks like if you have kids playing with some blocks and they just fell down,” Padilla said.
Police are asking for residents still inside the building to call police headquarters at 201-646-7777. Residents on the scene are being directed to 280 Prospect Ave. where police officers are trying to determine whether everyone is safe.
The 18-story apartment building is on 1.6 acres at the corner of Prospect Avenue and Golf Place. Built in 1988, the apartment tower is owned by ERP Operating LP of Chicago, tax records show. The company, known as Equity Residential, operates apartment buildings in 21 states across the country and in Washington, D.C., according to its website.
Equity Residential Properties of Chicago bought the building in 1998 for $36.3 million, according to property records.
.
HACKENSACK -- The fire department is searching for two missing people in a collapsed parking garage at Prospect Towers, an 18-story apartment building.
Family members told police the two missing residents were leaving the building at 300 Prospect Ave. when the garage collapsed. They are feared entrapped in the garage.
The above-ground portion of the garage, the glass atrium of the building, and a winding drive into the garage came crashing down onto the garage’s two underground levels, police said. It is unclear what caused the collapse.
Ben Feldman, a spokesman for the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department, said he saw three cars that were parked on the winding drive that had plunged into the underground garage.
Residents as high as the 18th-story of the building felt it shake for a full three minutes before the collapse.
“I thought it was an earthquake or a plane hit," said Chris Baldo, a first-floor resident. "It sounded like the whole building was collapsing. I grabbed my dog and my mom and ran out. I looked outside and watched everything go down."
The building and the building next door at 310 Prospect Ave. are being evacuated. Police believe about 100 people live in each of the high-rises.
Prospect Avenue between Central Avenue and Passaic Street has been closed. People who live in the area are being asked to stay away; parking will be provided for them at the high school. Bus shuttles will be provided later in the day from the high school to the building.
Stephen Lo Iacono, the city manager, said city engineers are on the scene to determine whether the building is structurally sound.
Police Capt. Tomas Padilla said he is evaluating whether the police will need to use the Civic Center as a shelter later for residents.
“It looks like if you have kids playing with some blocks and they just fell down,” Padilla said.
Police are asking for residents still inside the building to call police headquarters at 201-646-7777. Residents on the scene are being directed to 280 Prospect Ave. where police officers are trying to determine whether everyone is safe.
The 18-story apartment building is on 1.6 acres at the corner of Prospect Avenue and Golf Place. Built in 1988, the apartment tower is owned by ERP Operating LP of Chicago, tax records show. The company, known as Equity Residential, operates apartment buildings in 21 states across the country and in Washington, D.C., according to its website.
Equity Residential Properties of Chicago bought the building in 1998 for $36.3 million, according to property records.
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