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Current state of scaffolding in New York City
0:04:20
ยท
72 sec
Council Member Powers describes the pervasive presence of scaffolding in New York City and its impact on the urban landscape. He highlights the problems associated with prolonged scaffolding installations and their negative effects on neighborhoods.
- Mentions the ubiquitous 'hunter green' scaffolding that covers streets and affects skylines
- Notes that some scaffolding remains in place for months, years, or even decades
- Provides statistics on long-standing scaffolding installations and their concentration in Manhattan
Keith Powers
0:04:20
I think if you ask any New Yorker or anyone that's visited this city, the hunter green that scaffolding that litters our streets and takes up our space and our skylines, I think everyone is welcome to finally see less of it.
0:04:33
Everyone was very happy to see less of it.
0:04:36
It has been the business for usual, in this city for miles and miles of sidewalk chats that cover our city.
0:04:42
There are stretches of places in Manhattan where for miles, the entire neighborhood is covered in scaffolding.
0:04:50
With this legislation, I'm proud to say the city council is finally taking steps to modernize the city's approach to sidewalk sheds.
0:04:57
As we know, they're important to keeping New Yorkers safe as buildings undergo construction and facade inspections, but more often than not, work slows on slows, repairs drag on, and the scaffolding is left for months or even years and sometimes decades on end with no work in sight.
0:05:14
We have over 1,000 sidewalk sheds in the city right now that have been up for over three years, each one becoming a permanent blight on our urban landscape.
0:05:22
And here in Manhattan, which carries a lion's share of the burden, 45% of the 800 8,516 sidewalk shed permits are right here in Manhattan.