OSSINING

Ossining retaining wall collapse leaves nearby apartments undamaged

Isabel Keane
Rockland/Westchester Journal News

OSSINING – A retaining wall collapse that closed off several downtown roads left a newly renovated apartment building unscathed, the village manager said Tuesday.

The newly completed 55 and up apartments located at 80 Main St, right next to the collapsed wall happen to be safe and secure, according to Village Manager Deborah McDonnell. 

Responders were at the scene of a retaining wall that collapsed in Ossining Monday night. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the 40-50-foot-high wall's collapse was being evaluated Tuesday by engineers on the scene. 

Meanwhile, Westchester County Executive George Latimer ordered an inspection of county-owned retaining walls to make sure they are safe. Latimer said the county has several well-built retaining walls on its properties which have stood up to stretches of rain similar to the one the region has experienced – even standing up through the worst of Super Storm Sandy. Regardless, the county will be checking all retaining walls in an abundance of caution, he said..

Ossining Police Chief Kevin Sylvester said no one was reported injured in the collapse in the village. The retaining wall was on the property of 60 Main St., at the split between Main Street, Secor Road and Hunter Street.

COLLAPSE:Retaining wall, 40 to 50 feet high, collapses in Ossining

SPILL:Ossining reopens section of Main St. after oil leak from truck shut it down

Police responded to the collapse around 7:30 p.m. Monday. 

The recently rehabilitated apartment building was built in 2016, according to McDonnell.

The building was designed to be safe and secure, so that it wouldn't depend on the wall to hold the earth back, McDonnell said. 

The foundation at 80 Main St. is granite, and safe, according to McDonnell. 

At the time of the wall's collapse only one person was reported to be moving into the apartments at 80 Main St. The tenant is currently staying with a friend; however, residents should be able to return to the building within 24 hours, McDonnell said. 

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