Digging the Burg's Giant Fart Cloud Building Site

We know the work at 5 Roebling in Williamsburg, aka the site of the Giant Fart Cloud Building will be the source of many words and photos in coming weeks. We say this because (a). There is the chance of damage to adjacent buildings if it is not monitored closely and (b). There is the possibility the excavation will lead to the discovery of oil, as the site is withing the Roebling Oil Field footprint. (If they don't strike oil, it will indicate the limits of the underground oil in the area.) In any case, here's an email about the work:

They're using two different machines. One scoopy excavator/backhoe thing and another one that I've never seen before. It looks like a deathray crossed with a dental drill, but sounds like a jackhammer. I'm working at home today, which is really a treat, as my building keeps lurching and and it's there's the constant rat-a-tat-tat of the jackhammer type item and loud, building-shaking booms. I know everyone who lives next door to a construction site goes through this, but I feel like Shlomo Karpen [the developer] should be giving every tenant in this building combat pay. I have no doubt there's going to be structural damage. I really thought they were supposed to shore up the buildings next door when they start excavating, but so far, not a thing.

On the bright side, it shouldn't be long before we know if there's oil down there.