Rockwell Place Residents Concerned By Demolition & Dust At 10 MetroTech

Continued demolition work at the site called 10 MetroTech Center (alternately 625 Fulton Street) is filling 1 Rockwell Place with potentially harmful dust, says a letter written by building residents to Public Advocate Leticia James.

The letter, which 1 Rockwell resident representatives Sandra Mullin and Laura Tucker say they are also sending to City Councilmember Laurie Cumbo, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and Borough President Eric Adams, alleges that site developer Forest City Ratner only began using wet methods to mitigate dust from the demolition after complaints were made–and that they believe FCR should pick up the bill for their apartments being cleaned of said dust. As the work includes demolishing an 1800s candy factory, residents are especially worried that the resulting dust could contain lead, asbestos, and other toxic materials.

“The lack of communication… about the demolition, its timing, or any advice to residents in nearby buildings about what to expect or how to protect ourselves” is a concern, the letter reads, particularly for the large number of children in the building.

“[M]ost of them are under six,” the letter continues, “making them most vulnerable to lead exposure. We are especially concerned with potential long-term health issues they may face… Despite earlier indications they might work with us, Forest City Ratner has refused to help.”

Mullin says dust has been entering her building both through its Rockwell Place and Dekalb Avenue-facing sides, and that said dust is particularly affecting residents with asthma, including herself, and children. She says she spoke to a FCR representative in late June about the possibility of the company paying for a cleaning of 1 Rockwell–which the letter says would be a minimal expense, “especially considering the incredible stress related to the dust and the noise we have suffered through”–but that FCR has since stated that they will not fund a cleaning.

However, FCR Vice President of External Affairs Ashley Cotton says dust containment methods were being used at the site the entire time.

“During the entirety of the demolition of 10 MetroTech, we employed dust control methods outlined in the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations in order to control dust and we are within DEP and national regulations for dust generation,” she says. “We are in full compliance with all regulations.”

DEP regulations include adequate wetting of construction/demolition sites and debris, using hoods, fans, buckets, and chutes to move materials on-site, daily removal of debris, utilizing tarps both on-site and during removal, and other measures to minimize the release of potentially harmful particulate matter.

Cotton adds that the company has been in communication with the 1 Rockwell residents who wrote the letter, and is sympathetic to their issues.

BP Adams also spoke up on the matter.

“My office is currently looking into the matter affecting One Rockwell Place,” he says. “A balance must always be achieved when pursuing responsible development.”

Demolition of 10 MetroTech, which is scheduled to wrap up this month, is underway to make room for another residential building. Several new permits were filed for the property in May. 80 Dekalb already sits on the site.

Public Advocate James, Councilmember Cumbo, Speaker Mark-Viverito, and representatives for the Department of Buildings and Department of Environmental Protection did not respond to a request for comment.