An early morning fire at a construction site on the Grand Concourse on Nov. 30 resulted in no injuries, FDNY officials said.

 

According to an FDNY spokesperson, the department received a call at 4.05 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30 for reports of a construction fire in the vicinity of 2955 Grand Concourse, East Bedford Park Boulevard and East 201st Street.

In fact, 2955 Grand Concourse is a pre-existing residential building but a 6-story, (125 x 75) multiple dwelling construction site (pictured) is located two doors down from this address at 3005 Grand Concourse.

 

FDNY officials said 12 units, comprising 60 fire and EMS personnel responded to the call and the fire was placed under control at 4.26 a.m.

An FDNY spokesperson said there were no reported injuries and the cause remains under investigation. Norwood News also contacted NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) on Dec. 1 to see if the agency had any further information on the incident. Ryan Deegan, DOB deputy press secretary, said, “We weren’t called to respond to anything matching this description.” Deegan said the department would continue to check around for any information on the incident. but didn’t have any details at the time we contacted them.

 

He added that first responders generally only ask DOB to respond to a fire or incident in situations when they suspect there are structural stability issues at the building, or if they suspect there are other building code-related issues which they believe should be investigated. According to DOB’s website, a partial stop worker order is in place at the location.

The general contractor at the construction site is 901 Green Avenue Builders LLC, with an address at 2534 Tenbroeck Avenue in Allerton. The owner of the property is 3005 GC LLC, with an address in Elmsford, NY. Meanwhile, the website, opencorporates.com, gives a registered address for the company at 65-05 Utopia Parkway, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365.

 

The building was due to be completed in December 2022, according to notices placed at the site. Another notice posted to a green barrier at the site provides details of another company i.e. Reliable Enterprise Inc. with an address at 110-14 Astoria Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11369.

Norwood News visited the site, located in close proximity to St. Philip Neri School, on Dec. 1. The remains of yellow tape attached to some red plastic cones cordoning off the site from the roadway was visible at the location, though the walkway / pavement was open to foot traffic.

 

While standing on the sidewalk, we began taking photos through an opening in the high, green, erected barrier which was blocking the building off from the sidewalk. A gas inspection notice was seen posted to the barrier. There appeared to be a smell of stale smoke in the vicinity of the opening. We were approached by a man who had been sitting in a car outside the site who asked us why we were taking photographs.

 

We explained we were with the local newspaper, and asked if he was aware of the fire. He said he didn’t know anything about a reported fire, and asked if everything had to be reported in the news. We said it was in the community’s interest to know what was going on in their neighborhood.

When asked about his affiliation to the location, the man said he was with the construction company / developer. Another worker later closed the barrier opening from view.

 

On the day we visited the site, a gas inspection warning sign from Con Ed was seen affixed to the construction barrier.

 

A partial stop work order dated Sept. 18, 2020 was also seen affixed to the 3001 Grand Concourse construction site on Saturday, Dec. 16, though the top of the notice had been ripped off.

It referred to the reason for the order as having been either a violation of an Administrative code or a violation of a Zoning Resolution or because work was being performed in a dangerous or unsafe manner.

 

The gas inspection warning notice was no longer displayed on Dec. 16 when we visited the construction site again.

 

According to NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) records, there are current active violations at the site as per the attached breakdown.

As reported, a fire at a construction site on East Gun Hill Road in Williamsbridge on Monday, May 15, resulted in four workers being burned.

 

We will share any further updates we receive on the Bedford Park fire.