New York, NY —

The new interim head of the Department of Buildings still can't say for sure why the agency wrongly approved permits for a building where a crane recently collapsed. WNYC's Cindy Rodriguez reports.

REPORTER: At a state Assembly hearing Jonathan Bing who represents Manhattan's east side described letters and meetings between a community group and DOB officials concerning the buildings size. The community didn't learn about the error until it was disclosed during a city council hearing last week. Acting Commissioner Robert Li Mandri assured Bing the problem was being reviewed:

MANDRI: It appears based on all the information you just illustrated that it clearly has not been forthright in communicating the details and I need to get to the bottom of that.

REPORTER: A DOB spokeswoman said Li Mandri did not mean to imply any wrongdoing.

Bing says the community wants the building to be topped out at its current height of 19 stories. It was permitted for 43. Li Mandri says he's still trying to determine what the zoning regulations will allow for.