Clark Street subway station in Brooklyn closed indefinitely after awning collapse
Brooklyn's Clark Street subway station has been shut down indefinitely following the collapse a hotel awning above its entrance.
Surveillance video captured the moment Sunday morning when the awning came crashing down in front of the 2 and 3 Clark Street station.
Thankfully, nobody was nearby when it happened, and there were no injuries.
A spokesperson from the Department of Buildings said the 15-foot by 20-foot awning showed signs of poor maintenance, but the investigation into the collapse is continuing.
The station's entrances are located within the same building where the awning collapsed. A similar awning is on the other side of the hotel, which investigators are inspecting. They said it shows similar signs of corrosion as the one that collapsed.
That means there's no way right now to get in or out of the station, hence its closure.
Trains are still running though the Clark Street station, just not stopping there for now.
Businesses impacted by collapse
Ferrane Bakery owner Emon Maasho is worried about the immediate future of his business on the block.
"I heard it, but I didn't think it would be this bad," he said. "We chose this place especially because it's Brooklyn Heights. It's a beautiful neighborhood. You can't get more beautiful than this in Brooklyn. But also for the foot traffic that's outside. We're literally three steps away from the subway stop."
It doesn't stop with the bakery. A number of businesses on the corner of Clark and Henry Streets told CBS News New York each hour that passes with the station closed is an hour too long.
MTA officials spoke about those concerns Monday morning after announcing they are not sure when the station would be able to be reopened.
"We're as frustrated as they are. We have a service that we are willing and ready to provide, and so not having the ability to provide customers the transportation that they need and deserve is just unacceptable. We've elevated it to the top," the MTA President of NYC Transit Demetrius Crichlow said Monday after checking out the damage. "So the first thing is how do we get service back to this station. And there are two entrances that need to be addressed. Which one can we get done the fastest to get customers safely into the station?"
Violations against the building
The Department of Buildings issued two violations to St. George's Hotel Associates for not properly maintaining the building on Henry Street. CBS News New York reached out to the owners by a phone number linked to the organization, and have not heard back.
The building is occupied in part by Education Housing Services, who released a statement and said while they are not directly responsible for the maintenance of the building, they are "in active communication with the building's ownership and management to ensure any necessary repairs are addressed promptly."
Here's the full statement:
"We are aware of the collapse of the marquee at the St. George residence. We are relieved to report that no injuries were sustained, and we are thankful for the swift response of emergency personnel who secured the area quickly. While EHS provides student housing services within the St. George property, we are not the owners of the building. This has been reported to the public incorrectly by the MTA and several elected officials. We are in active communication with the building's ownership and management to ensure any necessary repairs are addressed promptly. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority, and we will continue to monitor the situation closely."
The Department of Buildings also confirmed the owners are working to repair the awnings, and the station will reopen pending a final inspection.