Building Partially Collapses Onto Sidewalk In Crown Heights, Brooklyn

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – It was a scary scene when a building partially collapsed onto a sidewalk Wednesday afternoon in Brooklyn.

The brick parapet and façade came down around 2 p.m. at Church and Nostrand avenues in Crown Heights.

One woman suffered a minor injury when she was hit by debris. She did not require medical attention.

"The whole gate fell down, the awning fell down, the cameras went blank. It just dropped," witness Julia Lucis said.

"People started scampering, running for their lives. Everybody thought it was like an earthquake," said witness Richard Rajkumar.

The Department of Buildings deemed the roughly 100-year-old structure unsafe, forcing 16 families out of their homes and five businesses to close.

The American Red Cross is helping those displaced find temporary housing.

In:
• Brooklyn