NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – The City Council passed legislation Wednesday aimed at reducing the number of scaffolding and sidewalk sheds on buildings across the five boroughs.
Mayor Eric Adams hailed the passage of the bills—Intro 393-A, Intro 661-A, Intro 391-A, Intro 394-A, and Intro 660-A—saying they fulfilled key commitments “Get Sheds Down” plan.
"When our administration came into office, we said the days of letting scaffolding sheds languish on our streets were over," Adams said in a statement. "These eyesores were crowding our sidewalks, stifling our small businesses, and darkening our city; it was time for something to change."
"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," the mayor added. "Above all, they will allow us to reclaim valuable space for the public and let the light back onto our sidewalks."
One of the sponsors of the package of bills, Council Member Keith Powers, of Manhattan, said the goal of the five measures is to cut down on the number of scaffold structures and the length of time that they’re up, as well as make them more visually pleasing.
“Much less scaffolding’s going to go up,” Powers said. “When it does go up, we’re going to put a lot more pressure on people to do the work and get it down. And while it is up, we're going to make it a little bit nicer, so our streets are safe and bright and a lot more attractive.”
There are currently 8,400 scaffolding structures across New York City. On average, they stay in place for nearly 500 days.
Powers said 200 of those structures have been up for more than five years.
The ubiquitous structures are seen by many as a blight on the city’s streetscape, often lingering for years as building owners stall the necessary work to have them removed.
A particular hotspot is along West End Avenue on the Upper West Side, where it seems every other building has one.
Powers said he thinks “New Yorkers have had enough” with the eyesores.
“No more 10-year scaffolding that stays up with no work done,” he said.
Last August, the city tore down the granddaddy of sidewalk sheds, which was on a medical examiner’s office building on Manhattan's East Side for over 15 years. Adams launched the “Get Sheds Down” initiative in 2023 with the goal of removing hundreds of sidewalk sheds citywide.