New York City officials have ordered a partial halt to construction at a Midtown Manhattan high-rise undergoing conversion from office space to residential units amid concerns over structural modifications. The Department of Buildings issued a stop-work order on July 28 directing developers and contractors at 750 Third Avenue to suspend all structural steel work on the ninth floor and above after inspectors discovered that certain steel columns had been welded together in a manner potentially not reflected in the approved construction plans.
Andrew Rudansky, a spokesperson for the Department of Buildings, stated that when inspectors requested documentation related to the welding from the contractor on site, none was provided. The department then required the submission of an engineer’s structural stability report before allowing work to resume. The building, originally constructed in 1957 and standing at least 30 stories tall, is being converted into 639 residential units as part of a broader effort to repurpose older commercial buildings to alleviate New York City’s housing shortage.
SL Green, the developer responsible for the project, acknowledged identifying the issue following initial preparation work. The company maintains that the welding occurred on existing columns and emphasized that the building does not have any structural issues. A spokesman for SL Green confirmed the firm was working toward having the stop-work order lifted. The contractor on the conversion, New Line Structures, did not provide comment.
This stoppage marks the third such intervention by city officials concerning office-to-residential conversion sites since early July. On July 7, a serious incident involving buckled steel columns at a project on East 42nd Street, the site of the former Pfizer building, led to the evacuation of thousands and heightened scrutiny of conversion projects. Subsequent inspections have resulted in halted work at other locations, including 222 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, where concrete beam cracks were found, and partially at 77 Water Street due to equipment certification concerns. Developers at those sites have likewise downplayed risks to building stability.
On-site workers at 750 Third Avenue reported being ordered to stop welding activities on the upper floors due to paperwork issues. One welder, Alfredo Amaro, described ongoing inspections during the week and expressed confidence in the building’s stability, citing his direct involvement with reinforcing structural elements. Other tradesmen continued work on lower floors, noting the absence of crews above the ninth floor following the stop-work order.
The Department of Buildings emphasized that there is no immediate danger to the public, no evacuation orders have been issued, and no structural distress has been detected. An independent inspector listed on city records as overseeing structural work declined to comment and was reportedly unaware of the stop-work order.
As New York contends with a growing demand for housing, the city’s increased oversight of conversion projects aims to ensure public safety while adapting the urban landscape to evolving needs.