Page 20 - The Indian EYE 042525

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline APRIL 25, 2025 | The Indian Eye 20

NYC Mayor Signs Historic Legislation

To ‘GET SHEDS DOWN,’ Remove Unsightly

Scaffolding Across Five Boroughs

Legislation Fulfills Key Commitments in Mayor Adams’ “Get Sheds Down” Plan

OUR BUREAU
NEW YORK, NY

ew York City Mayor Eric Ad-
ams has signed several pieces
Nof legislation to address the
city’s long-standing scaffolding shed
epidemic, giving the New York City
Department of Buildings (DOB) new
tools to remove unnecessary, unsight-
ly scaffolding and create more ap-
pealing designs for sheds that are still
needed. The legislation establishes
new penalties, compelling property
owners to complete building repairs
in a timely manner and remove sheds
more quickly; reduces the duration of
sidewalk shed permits; increases the
cycle of façade inspection require-
ments; expands the variety of side-
walk shed colors; improves lighting
requirements for sheds; and more.
Many of the reforms in this legislative
package were first proposed by Mayor
Adams in July 2023 when he launched
“Get Sheds Down,” the city’s com-
prehensive initiative to remove
long-standing construction sheds
on city sidewalks and create more
aesthetically-appealing alternatives. cil have finally done it,” said Depu- shed problem, but these new tools will va-Hiatt. “This is why we’re intent on
“When our administration came ty Mayor for Operations Jeff Roth. go a long way in delivering New York- keeping the scaffolding we need and
into office, we said the days of let- “This is a momentous day that will ers the uncluttered public streetscapes removing what we don’t. We’re glad
ting scaffolding sheds languish on our bring sunlight to our city once again, they deserve.” to see a broader reform to the city’s
streets were over. We launched our ensure façade work gets done in a “It’s rare New Yorkers agree to- scaffolding regulations that will do
‘Get Sheds Down’ initiative, removed timely manner, and keep New York- tally on anything, but on long-standing away with unnecessary shedding and
hundreds of long-standing sheds, ers safe.” sidewalk sheds, the feelings are unan- diversify design options, while open-
and proposed ambitious legislation “Ever since the ‘Get Sheds Down’ imous — they’re dank, they’re dark, ing up space on our properties with
to make sure property owners actu- plan was first introduced, our admin- and they do a great disservice to one a reduction of unnecessary shedding
ally finish safety work and take sheds istration has made significant prog- of our true shared assets: our public that improves lighting and safety for
down rather than just leave them up ress compelling hundreds of building realm,” said Chief Public Realm Offi- New Yorkers, including the one in 17
year after year,” said Mayor Adams. owners to make needed repairs, so cer Ya-Ting Liu. who call NYCHA home.”
“These revitalized rules will help the they can remove their sidewalk sheds “The Adams administration is Intro. 393-A — sponsored by
city remove unsightly scaffolding as from our neighborhoods,” said DOB laser focused on improving quality of New York City Councilmember
well as make sure that sidewalks sheds Commissioner Jimmy Oddo. “Thanks life for New Yorkers in partnership Keith Powers — reduces the duration
are more visually appealing when they to Mayor Adams and our partners in with the City Council, our city’s BIDs, of a sidewalk shed permit from one
go up for a limited amount of time. the City Council, this new legislation and many New Yorkers who stood up year to three months and strength-
Above all, they will allow us to reclaim puts us on the cusp of a meaningful re- to say enough. We are doing just that ens oversight of sidewalk shed permit
valuable space for the public and let duction in long-standing sheds across and ‘Getting Sheds Down!’” renewals, requiring property owners
the light back onto our sidewalks.” the city, improvements to the design “NYCHA is committed to the to regularly update DOB on the re-
“When I worked in the Mayor’s of pedestrian protection equipment, safety of our residents and ensur- maining repairs needed to remove
Office nearly 20 years ago, everyone decongestion of our sidewalks, and ing protection of our walkways and sidewalk sheds.
was focused on fixing the scourge of the first major reforms to Local Law grounds as we carry out needed re- This bill also creates new pen-
sidewalk sheds. At long last, two de- 11 façade inspection regulations in de- pairs to our buildings,” said New York alties for property owners who fail
cades later, the Adams administration cades. There is still a lot of game left to City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to conduct timely façade repairs on
and our partners in the City Coun- play towards fixing the city’s sidewalk Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bo- sheds in a public right of way.

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