Broken windows in emergency stairwells forced the evacuation of a downtown Ithaca residential tower Wednesday.
City officials ordered residents to leave the upper floors of 118 E. Green Street after firefighters responding to a fire alarm discovered safety hazards in the building’s stairwells.
The order applies to floors 4 through 11 of the building, which contain 181 housing units.
Firefighters found broken and missing glass in windows inside both stairwells — the tower’s only emergency exits. Officials said the damage prevents the stairwells from functioning as protected escape routes during a fire.
The damage also affects the building’s smoke evacuation system.
City officials said the condition violates New York building safety rules requiring emergency exits to remain safe and usable at all times.
High-rise buildings are designed to “protect in place,” meaning fire and smoke control systems rely on intact building components to keep residents safe. Officials said the number of broken windows made those systems unreliable.
Because both stairwells were compromised, the city determined the building posed an immediate life-safety risk.
Under state regulations, municipalities must enforce building codes when conditions threaten public safety. The city issued an order to vacate the residential portion of the tower until the stairwells are repaired and brought back into compliance.
Officials said a temporary fire watch — sometimes used while repairs are underway — was not allowed in this case because the approach had previously failed at the property.
The vacate order does not apply to the conference center at 116 E. Green Street. Officials said fire control systems in that part of the structure remain fully operational.
City staff and police officers are notifying residents and helping coordinate assistance.
The property owner is responsible for fixing the damage. City officials are working with the landlord, a supportive services provider, and Tompkins County to identify temporary housing options for displaced residents.
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