A partially constructed building collapsed at the intersection of H and 19th Streets NE in Washington, D.C., one week ago, prompting serious concerns from city officials and local residents alike.
No injuries were reported following the structural failure during a recent storm; however, neighbors have expressed that the incident was both predictable and preventable.
Captured on video, this incident marks the building’s second partial collapse since 2021, with city records revealing over 20 stop-work orders issued to the property since 2019.
Brian Hanlon, the director of the D.C. Department of Buildings, expressed his disappointment regarding the situation.
“It’s shocking and disappointing, of course,” he stated.
Hanlon clarified that his department has been closely monitoring the property for several years.
“It was truly by some miracle that no one was hurt out here,” said ANC Commissioner Juan McCullum, who lives across the street and has been directly impacted by the building’s issues. McCullum recounted a previous incident in July 2021, where a partial collapse resulted in debris damaging his home and totaling his car, causing over $60,000 in damages.
Video footage from that incident shows significant debris scattered across McCullum’s property, and local residents reported that efforts to stabilize or redevelop the site have been lackluster since then.
Questions about developer accountability arose when WUSA9’s Katie Lusso confronted Director Hanlon on the repeated failures at the site.
“The developer is accountable,” he affirmed, emphasizing the city’s commitment to addressing irresponsible building practices.
Despite this promise, local officials expressed frustration at the lack of communication around the ongoing situation.
Commissioner McCullum revealed that he had brought up concerns during a June 10 ANC meeting, just days before the latest collapse, and was assured a follow-up conversation would take place.
“I’m always pained when I hear someone say I’ve reached out to so and so; I was promised a phone call,” McCullum commented.
However, he confirmed to WUSA9 that the promised call from Hanlon never occurred.
“That was June 10, and here we are June 20, and I still haven’t gotten that call,” he stated.
When questioned by the media, Hanlon admitted to this lapse in communication.
“I regret that I did not actually speak with Commissioner McCullum the day after our meeting. We had agreed to talk. I failed to follow through and speak with him,” Hanlon acknowledged.
He assured that he would be back the following week to meet with the Commissioner.
Following the collapse, Hanlon reported that the site has since been secured and that debris removal was in progress.
According to Hanlon, the Department of Buildings is currently awaiting engineering reports to verify the foundation’s integrity before any construction can resume.
“As director of this agency, I’m going to look into this and glean it for all of the lessons learned that we need to examine and to move forward so that we can become better and stronger in the future,” he expressed.
WUSA9 reached out to the developer and their publicist for comments; however, no response was provided as of Wednesday night.
In a statement prior to the incident, the building’s developer referred to the collapse as a “weather-related construction issue.”
They added that efforts would be made to safely demolish any remaining debris, stating that the demolition was expected to be completed by Wednesday, June 25.
The developer expressed a desire to collaborate with the community on the next steps.
A spokesperson for Nationwide Properties provided reassurance, saying, “We are addressing a weather-related construction issue that is being safely demolished.
We are incredibly thankful that no residents were injured in this incident. Barring any further weather delays, we anticipate the demolition to be completed by Wednesday, June 25.
Once the site is cleared, we will better understand the revised construction timeline.
We remain committed to transparency and community engagement. Once construction can resume, we will gladly invite media representatives and camera crews for a walk-through and resident interviews to provide additional updates.
We appreciate your patience and continued support as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents and team.
image source from：wusa9
