Is CitizenM Using the Proper Crane for its Bowery Hotel Job?

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Yesterday afternoon, construction workers at the CitizenM project site on the Bowery began hoisting the enormous crane. At a height of some three hundred feet, it’ll stay on the east side of the street for at least the next twenty weeks, according to a hotel spokesperson.

To learn more about the crane in question – known as the “Power Boom” – we followed a link to the Liebherr website. Apparently the big-rig is not particularly meant for such long-term projects. A reader who works construction further explained that “these cranes are made for movement, not stationary construction,” and could prove very dangerous in a highly populated area. This fact is fueling area concerns about safety of not only pedestrians and motorists, but residents living in nearby buildings.

Especially with winter on the way, which could wreak havoc on the equipment during the next twenty weeks.

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The intersection of Bowery and Delancey is suffering, to say the least. Just last week, an alphabet soup of city agencies approved the hotel’s bid to reconfigure the traffic situation – without community input – in order to accommodate the crane. Unfortunately, we’re hearing word that the businesses in there area are already feeling the adverse effects. Namely, the restaurant supply companies on the west side that rely on the curbside for deliveries.

Meanwhile, word on the street is that the crane didn’t yet reach its fully erect position due to a purported “cable snap.” However, this allegation was not immediately verified. Either way, not very reassuring.