More than two years after a construction crane collapsed into an Old East Dallas apartment complex, the owners of the building say they have begun rebuilding the property.
One resident, 29-year-old Kiersten Smith, died in the June 9, 2019, collapse, and five other people were injured.
Hundreds of residents of the Elan City Lights apartments were displaced, causing confusion and frustration in following months as they tried to reclaim their property and find new places to stay.
Work to rebuild the complex stalled while the owners decided how to move forward, but this week crews were working to clear debris from the property to restore the side of the structure that was damaged by the crane.
“We have spent the past two years thoughtfully assessing the best future use for this property,” Elan City Lights said in a written statement. “The apartment homes and common areas that were most damaged by the crane collapse will be completely reconstructed. All units will be fully renovated with new appliances, flooring, decorative finishes and light fixtures.”
The company that was in charge of operating the crane, Bigge Crane and Rigging, is facing a lawsuit seeking reimbursement for more than $59 million in insurance claims related to the damage.
Bigge, which has been granted an extension until Aug. 16 to respond to the lawsuit, has blamed high winds for the collapse.
The crane should have been able to withstand wind up to 95 mph, according to manufacturer’s specifications that were on Bigge’s website. The National Weather Service recorded storm gusts up to 71 mph the day of the collapse.
Injured and displaced residents filed other lawsuits in the months following the collapse.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined Bigge $26,520 for violations including rusted bolts, but experts said those violations did not explain the collapse. The crane company contested the fine, and OSHA records show that the case remains open.
Staff writer Tom Steele contributed to this report.
