Fatal Accident Halts Construction at Trump SoHo Hotel Condominium

By Teresa O’Dea Hein, Managing EditorNew York — Construction remains stopped on the Trump SoHo Hotel Condominium after yesterday afternoon’s fatal accident on the 40th floor. A crane reportedly dropped a load of concrete beams, which struck the building and some scaffolding, causing a collapse that sent one construction worker falling to the street where he died. At least three other workers were injured on some of the higher floors. A statement from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stronger called this accident “another example of the dangerous conditions created by rushed construction in Manhattan.” The site, at 246 Spring St. in Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood, had been cited by the city’s Buildings Department on at least five occasions since last September for several construction violations, including spilling cement on the windows of adjacent property and a crane breaking a neighboring window. Most recently, a violation was issued on Jan. 4, 2008 for storing material too close to the edge of the 39th floor and failing to provide a site safety log to inspectors, according to the New York Post.The 46-story project is being developed by Bayrock Group LLC, The Sapir Organization and the Trump Organization. The general contractor and construction manager on the property is Bovis Lend Lease.The deceased worker was a married father from the Ukraine, the Post reported. A number of community groups had voiced their opposition to the contemporary glass tower, which they said was out of character in the historic neighborhood whose roots date back to the mid 19th century. They were also afraid that occupancy in the condo hotel  units would exceed promised limits.The luxury high rise is expected to contain 400 hotel condominium units, there will be 141 deluxe suites, 253 studio suites, 5 penthouse suites and a Presidential Suite. Some studios and deluxe suites can be combined to create luxurious 2-bedroom suites.  Units will range in size from approximately 422 to 905 square feet with expansive penthouses and the Presidential Suite on the three highest floors. The exterior of Trump SoHo was designed by Handel Architects while the lobby and amenity spaces were handled by architecture and design firm Rockwell Group.Trump and his fellow developers were referring all inquiries to Bovis Lend Lease, who has not yet replied to MHN’s call.