![]() Klaus Jacob, a Columbia University geophysicist, surmised that a high water table may play a role in structural damage to ground floors. Separate from a sinkhole, water below the ground - whether from a leak or a high water table - may also weaken a structure. ![]() “Salt marshes have a rich, organic, peaty soil that will break down into carbon dioxide over time as they decompose, so it is possible that settling of the landfill is causing the foundations to break,” Sanderson said, “but I imagine there could be other causes as well.” That marshland was filled in during the late 19th century, including the land below Henry and his neighbors’ homes, according to Eric Sanderson, vice president of urban conservation at the New York Botanical Garden, who studies ecological history. Like many other New York City neighborhoods, most of Canarsie was once a tidal salt marsh. A sinkhole can also be caused by water below ground, whether naturally occurring or a leak.Ĭanarsie sits just off the northwestern curve of Jamaica Bay and is bordered by both Fresh Creek and Paerdegat Basin. The soil’s movement may open up a space in the ground beneath the structure, causing a sinkhole. Poor quality soil may be unstable and not be able to bear weight. “My guess would be that the soil is extremely poor,” he said. Michael Barry, a structural engineer who formerly worked for the DOB, reviewed photos of the damage and said it looked like a sinkhole, or an empty space underground that may have opened up and caused the collapse. The engineering firm Henry hired indicated that the house’s foundation was broken, but the cause of the collapse would only be determined once digging commenced. “There’s a lot of stuff that you don’t have that you’ve left at your home and you just have to either make do or buy new stuff.”Īt Henry’s house, the floor in what had been the guest bedroom had sunk at least eight inches below the walls, making the walls appear as if they’re floating. “It was a little weird at first, but I’m comfortable now,” Henry said. The family is staying with their daughter, who owns a house nearby. “Collapses like this one could be indicative of larger structural issues in a building that may make it unsafe to occupy, and also pose a danger to the public.”īut Henry said he regrets calling the city, since nearly five months later, his house still bears a vacate order from DOB while he awaits the structural repairs. ![]() “For their own safety and the safety of their families, we strongly urge New Yorkers to let the City know about hazardous conditions in their buildings,” DOB spokesperson Andrew Rudansky said. A crevasse opened up in April in the garage of Alvin Henry’s Canarsie home, photo taken September 7, 2023. Henry did the right thing, according to the Department of Buildings, which sent inspectors over to check. Unlike Henry, who called the city to report the damage, most homeowners have simply made the repairs quietly, without notifying officials, and stayed in their homes throughout. What neighbors in the area understand is by word of mouth. It’s hard to know how many times houses in Canarsie - or elsewhere - have been affected by collapsing ground floors. “We’re gonna have a lot more of this stuff going on because of the rising water tables that are gonna be seeping in as a result of climate change, as a result of rising sea levels.” The Floor Sunk Eight Inches “Subsidence hasn’t been considered a big issue in New York City because so many of us are on the great glacial moraine, on the rock,” said Beth Malone, a program director at NHS Brooklyn. Bruno returns home, and Marie packs, leaving the house after a sentimental talk with Bruno.While the exact cause of Henry’s damage is still being determined, engineers and scientists said that what’s called “subsidence” (the ground caving in), may be the result of the soil quality on which the home stands, or of water below ground that puts pressure on the structures.Įither cause threatens buildings throughout the city, and there’s a risk that subsidence may increase with the effects of climate change. During the inauguration party, lawyer and sheriff interrupt it and evict Marie. Whilst removing the kitchen's drawer, he finds a false bottom with wife's will in it. An uninterested Bruno dates Marie, and after that romance follows. Maria (Parker Posey) purchases the home and wants remodeling done, to which contractor Bruno grudgingly changes the decor. When daughter Lydia dies, apparently without will access, Bruno is evicted, moving into his dad's shed. ( April 2023) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ĭarpenter Bruno built his dream home on his father-in-law's property. Please help improve this article if you can. This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
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