Remains of the building. Photo by town of Brookline.
The Brookline Fire Department reports that top two floors of a three-story building undergoing renovations at 50 Vernon St., off Harvard Street, collapsed around 10 a.m. today.
Nobody was injured. The department reports it evacuated the neighboring 52 Vernon as a precaution.
At least one parked car was crushed. Another was hit by a brick, but the blow appeared to have been cushioned by the fresh snow.
Brookline Building Commissioner Dan Bennett is on scene to assess the building, determining the next steps in order to remediate potential danger. The immediate concern is the free standing wall and the stability of attached front façade.
"At this time the cause of the collapse is unknown. All building permits for this site are active and valid. The scene will be secured until the structure has been stabilized and we ask everyone to abide by the perimeter for their own safety.
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Comments
The Patsy Cline fans of Brookline strike again
By BostonDog
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 2:31pm
The 2x4 out the front window is a nice touch.Â
Extremely lucky this happened on a sleety Sunday morning where few people would be out walking and no one working on inside.Â
Dammit
By SwirlyGrrl
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 3:15pm
DJ Subconscious had that cued up and playing in my hind brain as I clicked the link.
kd lang version, though - back when she still wore shoes on stage.
Fail
By Sock_Puppet
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 2:44pm
According to the Brookline permit database, the contractor who holds the permit to gut this building is
Intelligent Design And Build, LLC
437 Hunnewell St
Needham, MA, 02494
United States
https://aca-prod.accela.com/BROOKLINE/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=Building...
Intelligent? Â YMMV
I'm sure...
By Subway Rob
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 3:39pm
the weight of the snow / rain combination had no contribution, even if partially...including whatever pending investigative factors arise. ?
But tell us the next Laugh Factory audition line.
So glad that no one was hurt!
By lmagson
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 3:52pm
Terrifying!! I'm so glad that no one was hurt!!
"At least one parked car was hit by a brick"
By APB
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 4:45pm
That car to the right of the building looks completely destroyed. Hit by a few hundred bricks? The neighbors and workmen are very, very lucky.
Â
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Thanks for the fix, Adam!
By APB
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 5:41pm
n/t
Thanks for the nudge
By adamg
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 6:59pm
The Fire Department sent several photos, one of which showed a car with a brick on its snow-covered roof. I was so focused on looking at what was left of the building in the photo I did post, I didn't even notice that crushed car until you mentioned it.
Usually it’s cars smashing…
By Lee
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 7:49pm
…into buildings. This time a building smashed a car.Â
We don't need no stinking walls
By Username Unknown
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 9:03pm
Yeah don't worry about those load-bearing walls. Looks like their plan for an open concept is spot on.
Squashed like a bug
By SwirlyGrrl
Mon, 02/17/2025 - 10:04am
WHDH has video from the adjacent buildings. The side outer wall starts spitting windows, then the wall buckles and falls like someone squished the building from the top. The roof goes straight down.
https://whdh.com/news/watch-shocking-video-shows-brookline-building-coll...
Even if an architect calculated that fewer walls will bear the loads, surprises abound with older buildings and heavy weather.
Ideally
By ElizaLeila
Tue, 02/18/2025 - 10:55am
the architect hired a structural engineer ...
Your wise men don't know how it feels
By anon
Tue, 02/18/2025 - 4:35pm
To be thick as a brick
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