De Blasio Administration Announces Removal of Over 43,000 Feet of Sidewalk Shedding at NYCHA Developments Making Neighborhoods Safer & Cleaner Across City

July 9, 2015

Video available at: https://youtu.be/Ixds4jQtExc

Over 8 miles of shedding removed under de Blasio administration 

NEW YORK—The de Blasio administration today announced that NYCHA has removed all sidewalk shedding at sites that don’t have active construction in an effort to make neighborhoods safer and cleaner. The de Blasio administration has removed 43,769 feet of sidewalk shedding – over eight miles – since the Mayor took office. For years, residents have complained about shedding, which obstructs visibility, creates a sense of danger, and often collects trash. The Mayor has remained committed to NYCHA residents throughout his career, and after hearing complaints about shedding firsthand from residents when he spent a night at Lincoln Houses in 2013, he pledged to remove shedding and scaffolding that was not in use for construction safety purposes from NYCHA developments. A remaining 9,966 feet of sidewalk shedding is supporting safety at active construction sites where much-needed repairs are currently underway. The administration will ensure that sidewalk shedding only goes up for active construction and is removed as soon as construction is over.

“For too long, government ignored the needs of NYCHA residents. These unnecessary sidewalk sheds at developments across the city were a vivid, constant reminder of this neglect,” said Mayor de Blasio. “We committed to removing the sidewalk sheds that weren’t under active construction last year, and we’ve removed over eight miles of sidewalk sheds. Now, when a NYCHA resident sees a sidewalk shed on their building, it will be a sign of progress – improvements and repairs coming to their home.”

“The removal of unnecessary sidewalk shedding addresses a long-term annoyance for public housing residents. This common-sense change, championed by Mayor de Blasio, will help connect NYCHA developments with the surrounding community through limiting the placement of obstructive shedding and scaffolding to only those areas where construction work is being done,” said NYCHA Chair and CEO Shola Olatoye. 

“The removal of unnecessary sidewalk sheds will make NYCHA developments safer, cleaner, and more livable places to call home for thousands of residents. NYCHA is the cornerstone of affordable housing in our city and the New York City Council is proud to support New Yorkers in public housing with programs, services, and improvements that create access and opportunity for the NYCHA community,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. 

"I commend the Mayor and NYCHA for committing to remove the sidewalk sheds, and then seeing it through within a matter of months,” said Council Member Richie Torres, Chair of the Committee on Public Housing. “The Mayor's willingness to set clear objectives for his administration and then hold himself accountable for achieving them is a true mark of leadership. Today is a good day for those of who expect greater accountability and efficacy from our government.  Mayor de Blasio is delivering both.”

“For years, unattended sidewalk shedding has cast a dark and dangerous shadow on our city’s public housing. Where active repairs are in place, they are necessary safety structures that can give residents peace of mind. However, in the seventeen NYCHA developments in Brooklyn where nearly five miles of purposeless shedding needed removal, more than it would take to enclose the entire perimeter of Prospect Park, they were a threat to public safety and a hazard to basic quality of life standards. The fact that fundamental maintenance matters such as sidewalk sheds have gone ignored for years is unconscionable, and it speaks to the need for working hand-in-hand with NYCHA residents to shine a light on any obstacles to brightening the lives of everyone in public housing. I appreciate Mayor de Blasio and NYCHA Chair Olatoye’s attention to this critical matter,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

“Our city has made a commitment to provide NYCHA’s 800,000 tenants with clean, safe, affordable housing, Maintaining safe public spaces in NYCHA developments is part of that commitment,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “There’s much more to do, but this action is a positive step toward keeping faith with our public housing residents.”

“The families who rent their homes from the New York City Housing Authority have the right – protected under the law – to live in safety. The removal of unnecessary sheds from the sidewalks of NYCHA developments will improve security for residents, by allowing for the full use of security cameras and increasing visibility. I commend Mayor de Blasio and Chief Executive Officer Olatoye for the commitment to restoring these homes, which are a critical part of the affordable housing we have in New York City. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress and with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to secure the resources required to provide every family living in a NYCHA development with a safe environment,” said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.

“Making our streets and sidewalks a cleaner, safer and more convenient place is something all New Yorkers can appreciate,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “I applaud Mayor de Blasio for his initiative to improve our City’s neighborhoods by removing thousands of feet of unnecessary sidewalk shedding, while also making sure that active construction sites remain safe for the millions of people living, working and touring here every day.”

“Removing unneeded sidewalk sheds will improve our neighborhoods, making them cleaner and safer.  I applaud this move by NYCHA and the Mayor’s leadership in this area,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez.

“Shedding and scaffolding that remained at NYCHA houses no longer under construction posed an unnecessary risk and sent a bad message. Abandoned materials are resources not being put to use at other NYCHA facilities in need of repair. I commend Mayor de Blasio for taking the initiative and doing right by NYCHA tenants who were beginning to wonder if they too had been be forgotten,” said State Senator Martin Malave Dilan.

State Senator James Sanders Jr. said, "As the Queens senator with the most public housing in his district, I am very familiar with the unsightly and often unnecessary scaffolding that seems to linger around NYCHA housing for years. It obstructs visibility, creating dangerous situations and making people feel unsafe. These sidewalk sheds, as they are sometimes called, collect trash and make an area look dirty and neglected, deteriorating the quality of life for NYCHA residents. I applaud the mayor for keeping his word and spearheading the removal of these sheds."

“As a New Yorker and as Assembly Housing Chairman, preserving the integrity and sustainability of the New York City Housing Authority is of the utmost importance to me. NYCHA is the largest public housing authority left in the country, and its developments contribute to the unique culture and aesthetic of our City. Mayor de Blasio has proven himself to be an ardent supporter of public housing and its residents, evidenced by his administration's successful removal of more than eight miles of unnecessary sidewalk shedding. The removal promotes community and enhances safety, and New York residents are happy to see it go,” said Assembly Member Keith L.T. Wright.

“NYCHA sheds  have been a problem for a long time. They've also been an eyesore. The sheds invited crime into Red Hook by providing cover to criminals, covering and hiding their actions. NYCHA has listened to our community complaints and I thank the agency for taking today's action to remove thousands of feet of material from Red Hook. My constituents will be safer and the quality of life will be better,” said Assistant Assembly Speaker Felix W. Ortiz.

“It's great to see Mayor de Blasio fulfill his commitment to improving the safety and quality of life NYCHA residents.  Accomplishments like these show us that he is a Mayor who can keep his promises and so deserves the trust of New Yorkers.  I look forward to working with him to address the many other serious issues affecting the lives of NYCHA residents in my district,” said Assembly Member Maritza Davila.

“Scaffolding left languishing for years is not just an eye-sore for NYCHA residents, it attracts rodents, trash, and can lead to a variety of other public safety, crime, and quality-of-life issues. Mayor De Blasio's and Chair Olatoye's effort to eliminate unnecessary scaffolding should be commended, and I'll work with them to reduce it even further,” said Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez.

“Sidewalk shedding at NYCHA developments has long been a security concern for resident who live there. Last summer Mayor de Blasio committed to making these developments safer, a plan that included removing shedding, installing lighting, and expanding community center hours. The sheer amount of shedding removed affirms the Mayor's commitment he made last summer. I look forward to working further to create safer environments at our NYCHA facilities,” said Assembly Member Luis Sepulveda.

“In addition to their unsightly nature, sidewalk sheds and scaffolding have long presented an unnecessary danger to those living in and walking by NYCHA Developments. I applaud Mayor De Blasio and NYCHA CEO Olatoye on this decision to increase quality of life for the residents of the Sheepshead/Nostrand community,” said Assembly Member Helene Weinstein.

"A great percentage of NYCHA residents have lived with unnecessary sidewalk sheds for a great deal of time-blinded by the dark and under the threat of violence.  Without any improvements happening in their developments, many NYCHA residents were left with the belief that their developments have been neglected," said Council Member Inez E. Dickens. "Now that this administration has campaigned for the removal of under-used sidewalk sheds and scaffolding, our residents will know that these sheds and scaffolds are in place for the purpose they are intended."

“All residents in every neighborhood deserve to have their issues addressed promptly. The removal of unneeded sidewalk shedding is a crucial step in improving the quality-of-life for those throughout our city," said Council Member Mathieu Eugene. "I commend Mayor Bill de Blasio for addressing this issue quickly and efficiently."

"Obstructive, inactive shedding and scaffolding have been an invitation for crime and their removal marks a huge step of progress in our work to restore safety and dignity to NYCHA homes. No longer service a purpose, these structures endangered residents by casting long shadows and decreasing visibility. I am thankful to Mayor de Blasio for recognizing the dangers neglected sidewalk shedding have imposed on the community and to NYCHA CEO Shola Olatoye and her team for her continued commitment to improving the quality of life for all residents of public housing,” said Council Member Vanessa Gibson.

“The safety of our communities should continue to be at the center of our government work and this administration’s commitment to removing unnecessary and unsafe sidewalk shedding is a step further in that direction. Too often, the needs of NYCHA residents do not receive the attention they deserve—I applaud Mayor de Blasio for helping to undo that practice. I look forward to working together to continue to look at—and address—the universe of concerns on our NYCHA sites,” said Council Member Carlos Menchaca.

“For years, this sidewalk shedding stood as a blight over the heads of our neglected NYCHA residents causing unsafe conditions and blocking out cameras designed for crime prevention,” said Council Member Donovan Richards. “I applaud Mayor de Blasio for highlighting this often ignored issue and following up on his promise to take down these structures.”

“Sometimes it's the common sense solutions that make the largest impact on our quality of life. These sheds should have come down a long time ago. Many thanks to the Mayor’s office for recognizing this and committing resources to our NYCHA residents,” said Council Member Peter Koo.

“I appreciate the attention NYCHA has given to completing repairs so sidewalk sheds can be removed. Since the sheds came down at DeHostos, people no longer leave trash in random locations along the sidewalk. All residents feel safer and can enjoy the clear and open space in front of the building,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal. “I look forward to NYCHA completing repairs at Amsterdam Houses, so the shedding can be removed there as well.”

“We applaud Mayor de Blasio for taking the initiative to make NYCHA complexes safer and cleaner for its residents and neighbors. Its a very visible step that demonstrates that NYCHA residents are and will continue to be a priority of New York City,” said Javier H. Valdes, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road New York.

“The removal of  sidewalks scaffolding at our developments that are not part of active construction, is a major step towards safety, during the summer. I know I will feel safer knowing I can see who is around me without the scaffolding blocking my view.  I applaud Mayor de Blasio and the Chairwoman for their commitment to NYCHA,” said Lorraine Knox, Jefferson houses resident and Community Voices Heard Member Leader.