For Immediate Release
January 8, 2016

DOB LAUNCHES CITYWIDE SIDEWALK SHED SAFETY SWEEP

Buildings Dept. is Inspecting 300 Miles of Sidewalk Sheds at 7,700 properties for Quality of Life Violations

NEW YORK – Today, Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler announced that the Department will be inspecting all permitted sidewalk sheds throughout the City, with 7,700 properties in the sweep, including 600 NYCHA buildings. More than 300 miles of sheds will be inspected during the sweep.

“This is about proactive enforcement, preventing problems before they happen and improving people’s quality of life,” said Commissioner Chandler. “Our inspectors are looking for safety problems and common eyesores, such as sheds that haven’t been painted in years or are covered with graffiti, inadequate lighting, or missing boards or structural supports. This is all part of the Mayor’s ongoing effort to take on and solve problems that New Yorkers encounter in their daily lives.”

Sidewalk sheds are required for public safety at thousands of buildings throughout the City, normally where there is ongoing construction work or façade repairs. The inspection sweep is intended to encourage building maintenance and ensure that sheds are safe, well-lighted, and not a blight on neighborhood streets.

So far, DOB has inspected 2,800 sheds and issued 128 violations. The citywide inspection sweep is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Contact: Alexander Schnell (212) 393-2126
Follow us: twitter.com/nyc_buildings
facebook.com/nycbuildings
youtube.com/nycbuildings
nycbuildings.tumblr.com