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Author Topic: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building  (Read 45532 times)

Offline wooden_soldier

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #30 on: April 22, 2014, 08:44:14 PM »
So if my beer-addled brain is understanding correctly, it is alleged that back in 2010 an insane dirtbag started a fire to force his/her tenants out?
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Offline luzmaria71

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #31 on: April 22, 2014, 09:11:19 PM »
Between 82nd and 83rd streets on 37th avenue there was a massive fire of small local businesses in the late 80's or early 90's.

Now it's the A & C palace monstrosity.   That fire was very suspicious as well.
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Offline dssjh

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #32 on: April 22, 2014, 09:21:53 PM »
Quote from: wooden_soldier on April 22, 2014, 08:44:14 PM
So if my beer-addled brain is understanding correctly, it is alleged that back in 2010 an insane dirtbag started a fire to force his/her tenants out?

not an insane dirtbag, a typical developer. you own a block long stretch of small storefront buildings -- liquor store, laundromat, inexpensive furniture -- rented long term at relatively low rents. you decide you'd rather have a six story condo building with dozens of apartments selling for well above the neighborhood average. you spend a few bucks on supplies, a few more bucks on "labor" and BOOM! .... you get what you want. a proud nyc tradition for decades.
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Offline Breezie

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #33 on: April 22, 2014, 09:54:20 PM »
I wonder if the Estate of Joseph Bruno Trust are still the owners of the property.  I appears they were as of 2005 but much can change.
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Offline GregL

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #34 on: April 22, 2014, 10:10:10 PM »
Quote from: luzmaria71 on April 22, 2014, 09:11:19 PM
Between 82nd and 83rd streets on 37th avenue there was a massive fire of small local businesses in the late 80's or early 90's.

Now it's the A & C palace monstrosity.   That fire was very suspicious as well.

It was May, 1987.  My mom and I lived in the apartment building next door on 82nd Street.  I woke up smelling smoke and could see the fire well involved from my bedroom window.

While it was very suspicious from the start, the fact that the burned out buildings caught fire AGAIN six weeks later cemented the fact it was arson for just about everyone.

Greg
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Offline toddg

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #35 on: April 22, 2014, 10:32:56 PM »
I think it's important not to sling criminal accusations around here.

The fire on 2/13/2010 at 37th and 84th was investigated and ruled to be an accident.  I understand that many people are unhappy with what the property owner built after the fire, but it complied with both the Historic District restrictions and the zoning code, and is very similar to neighboring historic buildings.

The 8-story tower between 82nd and 83rd (known as the A&C Palace) replaces some commercial buildings apparently destroyed by arson.  As far as I can tell, it was determined to be arson, but nobody was ever charged.  Construction on the new building started before the historic district was designated in 1993, but JHBG deserves a lot of credit for pushing the design of this building to look more like the historic district.

In the case of the fire at the Bruson building, the FDNY is investigating.  I think we should wait for the results.

The zoning for this site seems to imply a maximum floor-area ratio of 4.8 if some community functions are included in the building (I think this includes medical offices).  This would seem to imply that a new building could be one storey higher than the old one if it uses the same footprint. 
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Offline Shelby2

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #36 on: April 22, 2014, 11:09:51 PM »
Does anyone know how long it generally takes for fire investigators to determine a fire's cause?
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Offline kmjh

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #37 on: April 22, 2014, 11:17:59 PM »
.
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Offline dssjh

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #38 on: April 22, 2014, 11:21:30 PM »
ah, "determined to be an accident." a favorite lower east side punchline circa 1983-4. high five.
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Offline Miss Chatelaine

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #39 on: April 22, 2014, 11:38:07 PM »
Quote from: Shelby2 on April 22, 2014, 11:09:51 PM
Does anyone know how long it generally takes for fire investigators to determine a fire's cause?

I'm not sure but I would think in this case their job could be a bit easier given how many people were in the general area of the building at the time it started.
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Offline kmjh

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #40 on: April 23, 2014, 09:14:22 AM »
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Offline Shelby2

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #41 on: April 23, 2014, 11:15:07 AM »
Quote from: kmjh on April 23, 2014, 09:14:22 AM
Apparently, investigators don't believe the origin is suspicious.
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140423/jackson-heights/massive-jackson-heights-fire-not-suspicious-source-says

It was hard to tell if this is an actual determination or just someone's best guess.  Also, who is "the source"?  It seems strange that no one is named.
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Offline ProdigalSon

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #42 on: April 23, 2014, 12:45:36 PM »
It is unfortunate, but 37th Avenue has had a history of fires that gut entire blocks. I can remember back in maybe 1983 (?) when the whole block btwn 89th and 90th went up in flames. Then in 1987, the block where A&C Plaza is now. Fast forward to 200? when the block btwn 84th and 83rd went up and now the Bruson Bldg. I'm not casting aspersions on anyone here, just lamenting the loss of good mom n' pop type neighborhood businesses which haven't come back. I would also wager most of the businesses under the Bruson Bldg won't be back either.
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Offline ErnestoTW

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #43 on: April 24, 2014, 06:35:45 PM »
This is a truly sad.  All of us here at Table Wine would like to send out our thoughts and prayers to those affected by this fire.  We wish them comfort in this difficult time.
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Offline toddg

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Re: Fire breaks out at Bruson Building
« Reply #44 on: July 07, 2014, 10:17:13 AM »
Reconstruction will start soon, according to DNAinfo.   There may be some modifications to the building (the article mentions the addition of some windows - perhaps in the back?), but no additional floors.
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