Scaffolding Has Covered This Brooklyn Street For More Than A Decade

"What was meant to be a temporary safety measure has become a long-term fixture at the Kings County Courthouse, where sidewalk sheds first installed in 2007 remain in place today. The structure was originally erected to protect pedestrians and workers after inspectors identified potential hazards with the building's aging facade."

"Sidewalk sheds are a citywide problem: as of March 10, there were 1.8 million linear feet of them across all five boroughs, with an average age of 18 months, according to city data. This past week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled new initiatives aimed at clearing long-standing sidewalk sheds and reducing how often they must be installed across the city."

"The plan would extend the inspection cycle from five years to six. Buildings deemed lower risk with a strong maintenance history could enter a scaled-back program, requiring full hands-on inspections only once every 12 years instead of every five. The proposed rules would also cap the size of sidewalk sheds installed on buildings with unsafe facades."

Sidewalk sheds at Kings County Courthouse have remained in place since 2007 as a temporary safety measure for pedestrians and workers due to the building's deteriorating facade. City Council Member Lincoln Restler has advocated for repairs since taking office, calling the long-standing structure embarrassing. Work is now officially underway to fix the facade and roof and remove the scaffolding. This situation reflects a broader citywide problem: as of March 2024, 1.8 million linear feet of sidewalk sheds exist across all five boroughs with an average age of 18 months. Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently announced initiatives to clear long-standing sheds and reduce their frequency. The Department of Buildings proposed updates to facade safety regulations, including extending inspection cycles and capping shed sizes on buildings with unsafe facades.

Read at Brooklyn, NY Patch