New York City’s Department of Buildings (DOB) has issued a full stop-work order at 222 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, where an office-to-residential conversion is underway. The order followed the discovery of cracks in two concrete beams on the tower’s 32nd floor. Although the damage was first identified back in March 2026, the full stop-work order was not issued until late July.
According to the DOB, the penalty was driven not just by the structural damage itself but by the fact that the contractors — GFP Real Estate and TPG Real Estate, along with builder Leeding Builders Group — failed to promptly notify authorities about the cracks and did not properly file the required changes to the repair plan. The agency said further enforcement action will remain pending until it completes its audit of the engineering documentation submitted by those responsible for the project.
The developers maintain that repairs were completed months ago and that the building’s stability was never compromised; the tower already holds a temporary certificate of occupancy for 13 of its floors, which are currently occupied. The case underscores the importance of notification and structural-verification protocols during office-to-residential conversions, a growing trend in cities across the United States.
Source: Newsweek
