Sick of scaffolding? New regulations, inspection timelines to reduce the eyesores
Mayor Mamdani announced new regulations and inspection timelines to reduce the need for sidewalk sheds across the city.
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Scaffolding, sidewalk sheds — or whatever you call them — are eyesores staining neighborhoods across the city.
Yards of metal poles and green sheds have plagued the Highbridge Garden Houses in the Bronx for five years.
On Friday, tenants received news that the sheds will be completely down by April as construction crews worked to remove sections of the scaffolding.
“It’s about time,” said Joanne Daughtry, resident association president of Highbridge Garden. “We have to fight for what we want and what we need.”
Mayor Mamdani, joined by Deputy Mayor for Housing Leila Bozorg and Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani, visited the neighborhood Friday morning to announce new regulations and inspection timelines to reduce the need for sidewalk sheds altogether.
“So far, 1,400 feet have been removed, and as you can hear, another 1,400 are in the process,” Mayor Mamdani said.
Under new regulations, hands-on inspection requirements timelines will be increased to 12 years from 5 years for buildings less than 40 years old and that are well-maintained.
“Here at Highbridge Gardens, NYCHA is investing $14.4 million in state funds to facilitate facade repairs across all six buildings,” the mayor said.
The mayor says the investment allows crews to remove the structures without imposing a safety risk to residents.
“A new agency rule will allow us to penalize building owners for keeping sheds up too long and ensure that the public gets updates on sheds every 90 days,” said Leila Bozorg, deputy mayor for housing.
