On November 11, a tragic incident occurred in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, where a three-story residential building unexpectedly collapsed, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals. The ages of the victims ranged from just nine years old to 31. As investigations have commenced, the owner of the property, Robert Fischman, has come under scrutiny due to his established connections with the construction company involved in the incident and his previous ownership of a controversial homeless shelter site in Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay.
The collapsed building, located at 1321 Flatbush Avenue, fell suddenly on the afternoon of November 11. Following the completion of search and rescue operations by the fire department, the police released the names of the deceased victims on November 13. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office has joined forces with the City Department of Buildings (DOB) to investigate whether the construction work occurring at the adjacent site was improperly conducted, which has become a focal point of the inquiry.
The site of the collapsed building was directly next to 2625 Bedford Avenue, where excavation work was underway as preparations were being made to construct new apartment units. City records indicate that several contractors involved in this project have faced numerous fines in the past for violations related to demolition and construction issues, including infractions for breaching stop-work orders.
Further examination of property and corporate records reveals a close connection between 2625 Bedford Avenue, Robert Fischman, and his affiliated companies. Reports from Gotham News have highlighted that Fischman sent out excavation work notices to nearby property owners in June, using a contact number linked to his Brooklyn hardware company, Berkoff Supply.
According to records from the New York City Department of Finance, Fischman sold the property at 2134 Coyle Street in Sheepshead Bay for approximately $24.37 million on May 23, 2024. Remarkably, within just two weeks, he used cash to purchase the development site at 2625 Bedford Avenue for $3.99 million on June 7 of the same year, indicating a swift movement of funds and a transition to investing in Flatbush.
Moreover, court documents reveal that in May 2020, Coyle Properties LLC and Berkoff Supply, both registered at the same address on Coyle Street, were listed as co-defendants in a case. This previous involvement with property transactions related to homeless shelter developments raises further questions about the connections between these companies and the broader ramifications of their real estate dealings.
In response to this devastating event, local City Council member Farrah Louis has urged for increased oversight of surrounding construction projects, emphasizing the need to hold both the property owner and the contractors accountable. Numerous elected officials have echoed her sentiments, advocating for increased budgets and manpower for the Department of Buildings to ensure proper oversight in the future.