An afternoon walk in Downtown Brooklyn turned hazardous Thursday when glass panels dropped from a vacant building at 245 Duffield Street and struck two pedestrians, officials said. Both were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Emergency crews were dispatched to the block shortly before 4:30 p.m. A video posted to the Citizen app shows firefighters on the scene inspecting a second-floor opening where a window panel was missing, according to News12. The FDNY said paramedics transported the injured pedestrians to the hospital, and the city Department of Buildings confirmed that both people suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The DOB also told the outlet that the property at 245 Duffield Street had an active permit for full demolition at the time of the incident.
Permits, Plans and the Site
Permits and public filings indicate the site has already been cleared for redevelopment. Developer Steven Shi filed plans late last year for a 30-story, 158-unit project at 245 Duffield Street, as reported by The Real Deal. New York YIMBY also noted that demolition plans were included with those filings.
Property records list a full-demolition job application filed in April 2026, matching the permit activity at the address. The building itself is a vacant two-story retail structure that the new owner marketed as a development parcel after last year's sale.
Safety Rules and What Comes Next
City guidance requires asbestos assessments and, in many cases, approved sidewalk-protection measures, phasing plans and workplace safety plans before demolition work begins, according to the NYC DEP's asbestos-abatement guidance. The DEP's filing notes that full-demolition permits must be supported by asbestos assessments and can trigger detailed A-TRU reviews and variance procedures when work could disturb hazardous materials.
The DOB told News12 that owners had contracted workers to clean up the fallen glass and board up the opening while crews secure the area, and building inspectors typically review such sites after a public-safety incident.
Officials did not immediately release the injured people's names, and no enforcement action had been announced publicly as inspections continue. Commuters and pedestrians in the immediate area should expect crews on site while city agencies complete their review.
