On April 7, the Yonkers Fire Department reported “that around 7 a.m., on Monday, units responded to reports of a building collapse at 1256 Saw Mill River Rd, the address of Peterson Tool Rental, a 2-story commercial property. Once on the scene, crews found that a significant part of the building had collapsed due to a rockslide behind the property.
“After further investigation, firefighters found that a large boulder had dislodged from the hillside behind the building, striking the structure and causing the collapse. Yonkers FD crews secured the scene, conducted a search for any occupants, and confirmed that nearby homes and properties were not affected. No injuries have been reported, and officials say there is currently no danger to the public. HazMat units are currently working to contain and mitigate a fuel spill from a 500-gallon interior heating oil tank.”
Yonkers Councilmember Anthony Merante is calling for immediate and comprehensive safety reforms after a massive boulder broke loose from a hillside “Thankfully no one was inside, but it could have been far worse,” said Councilmember Merante. “This wasn’t a freak event—it was the result of natural conditions like heavy rain and freeze-thaw cycles acting on our steep terrain. It’s a warning we can’t ignore.” Merante, who represents the district where the incident occurred, emphasized that Yonkers’ iconic landscape—often referred to as the “City of Hills”—comes with serious responsibility.
“Our topography gives Yonkers its beauty and identity, but it also demands careful planning and foresight,” he said. “We must make public safety our top priority. That means proper engineering, geotechnical studies, and stricter oversight before construction is ever approved at the base or top of steep slopes.” Merante specifically pointed to the controversial proposed storage facility at 1999 Central Avenue as a critical example.
“This project must be held to the highest safety standards,” he said. “No exceptions, no shortcuts. We need reinforced retaining walls, adequate drainage systems, slope grading, and vegetation that stabilizes the soil. These are non-negotiables.”
He also cited Yonkers’ history of similar incidents:
- In September 2021, remnants of Hurricane Ida caused multiple landslides, damaging homes on Warburton Avenue and halting Metro-North’s Hudson Line.
- In 2015, a 150-year-old retaining wall collapsed behind high-rises on Walsh Road, unleashing a mudslide and forcing emergency evacuations.
- In 2014, a wall near Glenwood Station failed, again disrupting train service with mud and debris.
“These events show a clear pattern,” Merante said. “Stronger storms and changing weather patterns mean that yesterday’s standards may no longer protect us. We need to modernize our infrastructure and reassess vulnerable sites before the next disaster strikes—and before lives are lost.”
Merante announced he plans to introduce a resolution to tighten Yonkers’ construction regulations for development near hillsides, calling it “commonsense legislation to protect residents before tragedy occurs.”
