UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) — Rats, traffic helicopters, sidewalk sheds and scaffolding are some of New York City residents’ biggest complaints.
One particular building on the Upper West Side at 51 West 86th St. had scaffolding on the front for nearly 20 years. That scaffolding finally came down recently, and tenants were out in the lobby to celebrate.
“Oh, happy day!” tenant Ellen Adler told PIX11 News. “All of us are just astonished every time we leave the building.”
Since 2006, the pedestrian shed and scaffolding had been affixed for required repairs to the building’s façade. But tenants never saw any of the repair work happening.
Instead, they banded together to get local media, like PIX11 News, as well as politicians involved in the fight. Some time after, the scaffolding was finally removed.
“We won the Sheddie Award for the longest shed up in New York City,” tenant Lianne Ritchie said. “There are people doing something about it now.”
Councilmember Gale Brewer, as well as Senator and Manhattan Borough President-elect Brad Hoylman-Sigal, were there for the festivities.
“I’ve never been to a shed taking-down ceremony,” Brewer said to the crowd. “It’s an example of community, leadership, tenacity and everything you can think of that’s grit on the Upper West Side.”
“This shed was up for three mayors, two popes and the entire Taylor Swift era,” Hoylman-Sigal said.
Another politician instrumental in getting the scaffolding removed was State Representative Micah Lasher.
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