A terrifying incident unfolded in Brooklyn Heights early Sunday morning when a massive hotel awning collapsed over the entrance to the Clark Street subway station. Surveillance footage captured the moment the concrete and steel structure—part of the historic Hotel St. George—suddenly gave way, crashing onto the sidewalk below. Fortunately, no pedestrians were underneath at the time, but the outcome could have easily been tragic.

As building collapse attorneys who have represented victims in cases involving façade failures, structural defects, and sidewalk hazards, we know just how catastrophic these incidents can be. When owners and operators neglect their duty to maintain property—especially high-traffic areas like subway entrances—the public bears the risk.

Alarming Signs of Neglect