Fatal Balcony Landlord has Many Safety Violations

PIX INVESTIGATES has confirmed at least TEN buildings in Manhattan owned by the landlord of 330 East 39th street did not have their five year "safety inspections," as required by city law.

Pan Am Equities is the corporation that owns the East 39th Street building, where 24 year old Conor Donohue fell to his death from a defective, 24th floor balcony on March 14th.

PIX INVESTIGATES tried to get some answers at the company's headquarters at 18 East 50th Street but was turned away. An attorney we tried to reach did not return our phone call.

Tenants at the 38-story building on East 39th Street have not been able to use their balconies since the March 14th accident. We spoke to three, young women who share an apartment on the 31st floor. One of them, 25-year old Carly Shanahan, showed us the balcony door that was bolted shut with a screw. The balcony affords beautiful views of the East River and Empire State Building.

Shanahan told us building management never formally acknowledged the death of Conor Donohue. "As a tenant, it doesn't feel good. You don't feel safe, you don't feel secure, in a building that doesn't even address the fact someone's passed away and died in our building." And Shanahan complained about the e-mail from the manager of New York Tower, that offered a one-time only "rent credit" of $50.00.

Shanahan's roommate, 24-year old Christine Haddad, warned tenants of other "high rises" to make sure their buildings are up to code. "It's definitely an eye-opener, when someone dies, the same age as you."

Mary Murphy
4/6/10