The developer behind a Manhattan high-rise that sparked fears of a collapse after buckled columns forced evacuations says the danger was overstated, calling the structural damage a "localized situation" that never put the building at risk of collapsing.MetroLoft said in a statement obtained by NBC 4 New York on Wednesday that the developer worked closely with New York City’s Department of Buildings to confirm the building "is now stable," and that it has "a clear plan to fix" the issue."This is a localized situation affecting less than 30 apartments out of over 1,600.At no time was the building, or any portion of it, at risk of collapse," the statement said.MANHATTAN BUILDING STABILIZED, SOME EVACUATIONS LIFTED AFTER COLLAPSE FEAREDPeople inspect a buckled support beam inside 235 East 42nd Street, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in New York.
(AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)Emergency responders discovered two buckled support columns and sagging floors inside the 37-story structure on Tuesday, prompting the evacuation of construction workers and occupants of nine nearby buildings.Nathan Berman, founder of MetroLoft, said reports of an impending collapse had been "blown a little bit out of proportion" during an interview with real estate publication The Real Deal."This is a 1.3 million-square-foot project with an issue at the building's northwest corner," Berman told the publication, noting that the building has a "huge base that is as stable as anything in the city." He said the damage was limited to a roughly 20-by-20-foot section of the building and described the problem as "very fixable."The unstable building at 235 East 42nd Street is seen Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in New York.(AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)Fire officials initially warned of an "extremely dangerous situation" after finding the damaged columns on the 21st floor, though they said the primary concern was "a localized collapse" rather than the failure of the entire 37-story structure.PILOT DECLARES MAYDAY BEFORE SEAPLA...