New York Building Collapse: Google Street View Shows Crack

Posted by Chris Monty on June 22nd 2009 Filed Under: Hot Topix, Tech News

The "Vesper Bar & Lounge," a four story building in Brooklyn, New York, collapsed today just before 2pm ET. There were luckily no casualties and just four minor injuries. The establishment was closed at the time of the collapse.

Images of the collapse were instantly posted to photo-sharing sites (see here and here).

Here's where things get interesting, though...Google Street View clearly shows n enormous crack running up the front of the building.

One New York blog reports:

The building was cited last month for having a crack running from the first floor to the third. The May 1 complaint from the Buildings Department says “Approx 1/2 inch to 1 inch wide vertical crack line in east wall (east south corner) facade from 1st to 3rd floor.” The inspection also found cracks on the interior wall on the third and fourth floors.

Pictures are below. This is quite an interesting event in Web 2.0 history.