The Metropolis Council authorised a legislative bundle Wednesday afternoon to cut back the variety of scaffolding buildings on New York Metropolis streets.
The bundle of 5 payments takes purpose on the short-term metal and wood scaffolding buildings – generally known as scaffolding sheds – that line and darken hundreds of sidewalks all through the 5 boroughs of New York Metropolis whereas protecting members of the general public protected from falling particles.
Sidewalk sheds usually adorn the facet of metropolis buildings for greater than a 12 months, obscuring well-known buildings and creating vital lighting points on numerous metropolis streets and sidewalks. In July 2023, for instance, QNS reported that scaffolding buildings have been constant options at distinguished courthouses all through Queens for nearly 5 years, together with the Queens County Felony Court docket at 125-01 Queens Blvd. and the Supreme Court docket of Queens County at 88-11 Sutphin Blvd. in Jamaica.
Development sheds and scaffolding on the Sutphin Avenue courthouse complicated.Photograph by Ethan Marshall
Crain’s New York reported that the town’s estimated 8,500 sidewalk sheds boast a median lifespan of 500 days, with advocates for the legislative bundle stating that the buildings obscure buildings from the general public and make sidewalks poorly-lit for pedestrians.
Mayor Eric Adams, who allied with the Metropolis Council for the “Get Sheds Down” initiative in July 2023, celebrated passage of the 5 payments Wednesday afternoon, stating that the times of permitting scaffolding to “languish” on New York Metropolis streets are at an finish.
“These revitalized rules will help the New York City Department of Buildings remove unsightly scaffolding and ensure that sidewalks sheds are safer, more secure, and more visually appealing when they go up for a limited amount of time,” Adams stated in an announcement Wednesday afternoon. “Above all, they will allow us to reclaim valuable space for the public and let the light back onto our sidewalks.”
The 5 payments purpose to handle a number of long-standing complaints over sidewalk sheds, together with the size of time that sheds might be erected for and the aesthetic look of the sheds.
The bundle additionally makes an attempt to reverse a number of necessities launched by the decades-old Native Legislation 11, which requires landlords to examine their constructing facades each 5 years and erect sidewalk sheds throughout every inspection.
Intro 393A, for instance, will scale back the allow size for brand spanking new sidewalk sheds linked to facade inspection from one 12 months to 3 months.
Manhattan Council Member Keith Powers Credit score: William Alatriste/NYC Council Media Unit
The invoice, launched by Manhattan Council Member Keith Powers, has additionally launched new penalties for constructing homeowners who don’t conduct repairs in a well timed method, beginning at $10 per linear foot monthly and rising to a most of $6,000 monthly.
Landlords can, nevertheless, renew their three-month permits if they will show monetary hardship, struggles accessing a neighboring property or different points impacting crucial repairs at a constructing.
Powers launched two different payments within the legislative bundle, together with Intro 394A, which pushes again facade inspections for brand spanking new buildings from 5 years to eight years. The invoice additionally eliminates the town’s current five-year Façade Inspection and Security Program (FISP) cycle and requires the Division of Buildings to ascertain an extended interval time between inspections. The DOB will make an official dedication on the brand new size of cycles throughout the summer season, with the up to date window set between six and 12 years.
Intro 391A – the third and remaining invoice launched by Powers as a part of the legislative bundle – requires the DOB to suggest new sidewalk shed designs to the Metropolis Council by September 2025 in a bid to enhance the looks of the sheds throughout the town.
The invoice additionally requires the DOB to advertise the usage of containment netting as a substitute for sidewalk sheds and moreover expands the allowable colour palette of sidewalk sheds past hunter inexperienced, to incorporate metallic grey, white or a colour matching the façade, trim, cornice or roof of the constructing.
Structure companies PAU and Arup US are already designing potential options to the present sidewalk sheds in use throughout the town, with the companies’ reviews due this summer season. Beneath the brand new laws, the DOB is required to share the outcomes of that examine with the Metropolis Council.
Erik Bottcher, who launched the ultimate two payments of the legislative bundle, has additionally tried to clamp down on sheds that stay erected for a number of years by means of Intro 661A, which introduces penalties of between $5,000 and $20,000 for facade repairs that aren’t accomplished on time.
Landlords who’ve recognized unsafe circumstances throughout inspections of constructing facades could have 5 months to submit development paperwork to the DOB; eight months to submit crucial allow purposes; and two years to totally conduct facade repairs or they are going to be accountable for penalties below the phrases of the newly-passed laws.
Bottcher’s Intro 660A, the fifth and remaining invoice included within the legislative bundle, will double the lighting required in public walkways below sidewalk sheds in a bid to enhance security for members of the general public.
Council Member Sandra Ung, who sponsored 4 of the 5 payments authorised by the Metropolis Council, stated the bundle addressed a much-needed subject in communities throughout New York Metropolis, stating that sidewalk sheds negatively impression native companies and create questions of safety for native residents.
“For far too long, scaffolding has been allowed to linger in our communities, creating safety hazards, hurting small businesses, and diminishing our streetscapes,” Ung stated in an announcement.
Flushing Council Member Sandra Ung. Credit score: Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit
Ung, who represents Council District 20 together with components of Flushing, stated sidewalk sheds in her district are “not just an eyesore” however characterize a real risk to public security.
“This package of bills will ensure that scaffolding comes down faster, is better designed while in place, and is no longer used as a way for property owners to delay necessary repairs,” Ung stated in an announcement.
The Actual Property Board of New York (REBNY), who pushed the council to undertake softer laws to supply landlords with means to flee fines for issues they may not management, counseled each the Adams Administration and the Metropolis Council for listening to issues of the actual property business.
Daniel Avery, director of coverage at REBNY, stated in an announcement that there are nonetheless points to “work out” within the rulemaking course of however added that REBNY is assured that every one payments will likely be honest and efficient.
“We commend the bills’ sponsors, City Council and Administration for considering the concerns from our industry on this topic and advancing legislation that will spur more user-friendly and creative sidewalk sheds,” Avery stated in an announcement. “There are still issues to work out in the rulemaking process, but we are confident all stakeholders can work together to make these bills fair and effective.”
