The skyscraper hosting the Turkish Consulate in Midtown Manhattan has been operating without proper city approval for months, according to a recent audit.
The striking 35-story tower on First Avenue, within walking distance of the United Nations headquarters, was denied a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) by the Department of Buildings (DOB) in September but has nonetheless remained open, as reported by The New York Post.
Known as Turkevi Center, or “Turkish House,” it was inaugurated in 2021 with great fanfare, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. City officials fast-tracked approvals despite incomplete fire safety plans and other unresolved issues, the audit by Comptroller Brad Lander’s office reveals.
The document highlights how the DOB and FDNY allegedly expedited the building’s opening under pressure to accommodate the high-profile event. Initial objections from fire safety officials, who deemed the building’s fire plan inadequate, were suddenly dropped just days before the ceremony.
The process reportedly bypassed critical safety checks, including those for the building’s elevators and glass facade, which remain in violation. The fire safety plan itself wasn’t finalized until September 2024—three years after the building began hosting events and housing consulate staff.
“This is a stark example of safety taking a backseat to political and diplomatic priorities,” Lander said.
City records show that since its inauguration, the building has operated under a patchwork of 13 temporary approvals, none of which addressed the underlying safety concerns.
However troubling, that is not an uncommon practice: approximately 637 buildings across New York City, including nearly 200 comparable to the Turkish Consulate, operate without final approvals. On average, these structures have been functioning without city-sanctioned occupancy for over three years. In some extreme cases, buildings have gone as long as 12 years without receiving any temporary certification.
But none have drawn as much attention—or as many questions—as Turkish House. The consulate’s expedited opening is now part of broader allegations against Mayor Eric Adams, who is accused of leveraging his influence to bypass bureaucratic hurdles during his tenure as Brooklyn Borough President. Federal prosecutors claim that Turkish officials provided Adams with luxury travel perks in exchange for his intervention.
Adams has denied any wrongdoing and is set to face trial in April.
