After 21 Years, NYC’s Longest-Standing Sidewalk Shed Has Been Removed
On Friday, December 22nd, NYC Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner Jimmy Oddo took to 409 Edgecombe Avenue in Harlem to finally remove the city’s longest-standing sidewalk shed.
The sidewalk shed had been an eyesore for 21 years, blocking a New York City landmark that was once a hub for the civil rights movement. The removal comes after the city was forced to file a criminal court case against the building’s property managers for their repeated failure to repair the building.
“For 21 years, residents of Harlem sacrificed public space and the beauty of a historical landmark because property managers repeatedly failed to do their job,” said Mayor Adams on the day of the removal. “Today, we deliver 409 Edgecombe Avenue back into the hands of the Sugar Hill community and remain focused on continuing to safely remove the eyesores that are ugly sidewalk sheds and scaffolding across the five boroughs.”
According to ABC7, the co-op building dates back to 1917, and its residents who each own a share have had to cough up millions of dollars to make the necessary repairs. Though it wasn’t a matter of neglecting to repair the building but rather attaining the resources so it could be done the right way.
The removal comes about five months after Adams announced the “Get Sheds Down” plan, which aims to expedite the removal of sidewalk construction sheds and scaffolding across NYC.
“With our ‘Get Sheds Down’ plan, we’re cutting red tape to help city government move faster and give our neighborhoods back to New Yorkers,” added Adams.
Since the plan was launched, 500 sidewalk sheds have been removed, which covered nearly 11 miles of New York City sidewalks, including 75 long-standing sheds that have been up for over half a decade.
The Adams administration is currently working with the NYC Council to “allow for a wider variety of colors, improve oversight over shed construction and maintenance, and enhance enforcement strategies. In the coming months, the city plans to file more criminal court cases against property owners who have failed to make repairs to their buildings and kept sidewalk sheds in place for years.”
“New” New York Executive Director B.J. Jones stated:
Today, we mark a significant milestone as we dismantle the longest-standing sidewalk shed, signaling the beginning of a transformative era for our city streets. Through the Adams administration’s ‘Get Sheds Down’ plan, we are revitalizing our city’s urban landscape, making it more welcoming to all.
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