Ex-con Inspector's Fake Asbestos Inspection Halts Bensonhurst Homeless Shelter Project
An asbestos inspector, Noel Muir, who previously served prison time for fraud, is accused of conducting a fake asbestos inspection at a proposed homeless shelter site in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. Muir allegedly claimed to have inspected the site in April 2025 and declared it asbestos-free, facilitating the project's progression. However, affidavits from local residents and business leaders assert that Muir never visited the site. The city is investigating whether Muir conducted the inspection with a suspended license. The project, a 150-bed men's shelter, has faced significant delays and community protests since its announcement in 2023. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a stop-work order after determining that a proper asbestos inspection was not conducted.