For decades, New York City mayors have tried to address the same issue: scaffolding.<\/p>\n
In 2023, Mayor Eric Adams tried to penalize building owners for longstanding scaffolding<\/a>; in 2014, Mayor Bill de Blasio put money into building repairs<\/a>; and in 2010, Mayor Michael Bloomberg tried to make sidewalk sheds prettier. \u00a0<\/p>\n Now, it’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s turn to try to figure out how to lessen these eyesores without compromising safety.<\/p>\n Changes to building inspections<\/p>\n With a tin shed being dismantled behind him at The Bronx’s Highbridge Gardens Houses Friday, Mamdani announced plans to lessen how much scaffolding is required around NYCHA buildings and other campus-style developments.<\/p>\n “An open walkway, a sunlit street, a fixed fa\u00e7ade \u2013 these are the small changes that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives,” the mayor said.<\/p>\n After Barnard student Grace Gold was killed by a falling brick back in 1979, New York City passed a law requiring buildings be inspected every five years. If a hazard is found on the facade, owners must put up scaffolding until it’s fixed.<\/p>\n Now, Mamdani is reducing how often buildings need full inspections, from once every five years to every six years for older buildings and every 12 years for newer ones.<\/p>\n City Hall is also proposing a new rule to penalize building owners who keep sheds up for longer than 180 days.<\/p>\n The new rules and enforcement will take effect this summer.<\/p>\n New Yorkers react to plan<\/p>\n Department of Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani insists reducing inspections will not compromise safety.<\/p>\n “They’ll still see visual inspections every three years. We’ll still be keeping an eye on those buildings,” he said. “The building owners still have a responsibility to keep it safe, and DOB inspectors will continue to come out whenever a New Yorker sees something, and our inspectors will respond.”<\/p>\n Still, some New Yorkers are nervous about the change.<\/p>\n “Oh no, they need to be inspected as much as possible,” one person said.<\/p>\n Others said they’ll be happy to see the scaffolding go, but they’re still skeptical.<\/p>\n “I’m glad that they’re coming down, but guess what? They ain’t down yet, so we gotta wait and see,” Highbridge resident Joanne Daughtry said.<\/p>\n There are nearly 400 miles of scaffolding across city sidewalks.<\/p>\n