New York City considering bill to prevent building collapses

The New York City Council is considering a proposed law with the goal of preventing building collapses.

The Billingsley Structural Integrity Act is a response to the collapse of 1915 Billingsley Terrace in the Bronx last December. It would create a program to assign risk scores to buildings that assess the likelihood of a structural failure.

Risk scores would consider factors such as a building’s age, size, construction material, history of permits, violations, inspections, and complaints. It will give owners 10 days to devise a corrective action plan or face escalating fines and penalties.

The legislation aims to improve how the city’s Buildings Department detects and responds to hazards.