The owner of an apartment building on the Upper West Side has finally taken down a sidewalk shed that had been in place for nearly two decades. Neighbors, however, aren’t feeling too sentimental about it.
The shed at 51 West 86th Street was known for its poor condition and even received the title of Westside’s Worst Sidewalk Shack at this spring’s first-ever “Shedy Awards” held by local lawmakers.
“It’s really a big deal since it’s been there for such a long time,” said resident Omet Hitt. The tech worker expressed how the removal felt like a breath of fresh air and made the area seem new. “When it disappears, it’s like we get a whole new space.”
“It’s beautiful and open now,” he continued excitedly. “We were already celebrating with champagne, but I think there’s definitely going to be a party.”
An unnamed resident from a nearby building echoed this sentiment, stating, “This sidewalk situation has been a blight in the city. We waited the longest.” He mentioned being away for a whole month during the Jewish holidays and being surprised at how different the building looked upon his return. “It’s nice and clean, and I think everyone will be happier now.”
The scaffolding that had surrounded the area since 2020 was taken down four months earlier. This was first reported on a local community site.
Owned by Weinreb Management, the building had become notorious since its shed was erected in 2006. A request for comment from the management company was not answered.
In 2022, the city sued Weinreb for multiple building violations, including concerns over fire safety and failure to address hazardous facade issues after a fire in one of their Bronx buildings led to 17 deaths.
The lawsuit highlighted a consistent neglect of essential repairs that posed considerable threats to public and tenant safety.
The case against Weinreb also cited two separate violations at the 86th Street building regarding faulty sprinkler and alarm systems and the absence of a fire extinguisher.
This legal action was part of a broader city initiative aimed at cleaning up prolonged sidewalk sheds. A representative from the Department of Buildings noted that it pressured Weinreb to address issues across eleven buildings, many of which had sheds that lingered for years.
“Weinreb Management is actively working on these repairs and has already addressed many violations,” the department confirmed, mentioning that facade restoration at this location is also in the works.
Building Commission Director Jimmy Oddo pointed out, “Thanks to the collaboration with the Department of Justice, we managed to compel the owner to take necessary actions and restore valuable sidewalk space for the community.”
Resident Ellen, who has lived in the area for years, shared her relief, saying, “Everyone is thrilled but also upset it took so long. The city suing them was crucial in getting things moving… and ultimately, they had to comply. I hope this sets a precedent.”
Interestingly, the oldest active sidewalk shed in New York City dates back to 2010, found in two buildings in Yorkville’s East Village, according to recent building records.
In fact, there are several buildings throughout the city with scaffolding that’s lasted for over a decade.
“It’s clear that the [scaffolding situation] has spiraled out of control,” remarked another long-time resident of 51 West 86th Street. “This city is beautiful, and I just want to see more of it.”
