A building on Gilder Street in Larchmont has been deemed uninhabitable after a car crashed into it, sending New Rochelle's collapse unit to the scene to check whether the structure could still stand safely. Everyone inside made it out unharmed, but the building now sits empty while officials figure out what comes next.
It appears the driver was trying to park when they accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake, according to News 12, which first reported the crash. The outlet notes that everyone inside the building was able to get out safely once the vehicle came to a stop.
Collapse Unit Called to Shore Up the Structure
New Rochelle's collapse unit was called to the crash scene to shore up the inside of the building and make sure the structure was stable, the station reported. Crews remained on scene afterward to make sure the building stayed secure while the assessment continued.
Officials said the building will remain posted as uninhabitable, per the same account, meaning nobody can move back in until it clears further review. The property owner will need to make arrangements with the Larchmont Building Department and contractors before anyone can return.
What Larchmont's Building Department Can — and Can't — Do Here
Any path back to habitability will likely run through the Village of Larchmont's Building/Engineering Department, whose jurisdiction covers property within the village's boundaries. According to the Village of Larchmont Building Department, the office assists the fire department with damage assessments and handles code enforcement matters — the kind of review that would typically follow a structural scare like this one.
Once repairs are underway, the same department applies the relevant provisions of the Village Code alongside current New York State Building Codes during permitting, according to the Larchmont Building Department. When work is finished and signed off, inspectors issue a Certificate of Occupancy or Completion to close out the permit — the formal step that would ultimately clear the Gilder Street building to reopen.
Not the First Car-Into-Building Scare in the Area
Vehicles crashing into buildings has been a recurring headache around Westchester County. Back in 2017, News 12 reported that a car hit a Larchmont apartment building on North Chatsworth Avenue just before 8 p.m. And in Yonkers last year, a driver crashed into a Montefiore Medical Group building on Central Park Avenue, according to ABC7 New York.
None of those incidents answer the open questions still hanging over the Gilder Street crash, including how long the building will stay off-limits or what repairs will ultimately be required. For now, the uninhabitable posting stands, and it's up to the property owner to work with village officials and contractors before anyone can move back in.
