New Designs for Sidewalk Sheds in NYC

The Department of Buildings has revealed plans for two new types of sidewalk sheds, aiming to replace the massive structures currently disrupting the city’s expansive 360 miles of sidewalks.

While these designs are less visually jarring than the traditional steel and wooden constructions, it’s probably best not to mistake them for a complete fix to the ongoing issue with these structures.

Last year, the prototype images were shared, but now, the first actual hut is being set up outside the DOB’s headquarters at 280 Broadway. Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning, Leila Bozorg, mentioned that the new design “will help New Yorkers see the sky while keeping people safe” from potential hazards overhead.

The new cabins displayed are just two of six design options the city is considering. The so-called “rigid” and “flex” huts, created by the architecture firm Arup, are a step up from the traditional style that many find displeasing. They feature tall, white columns resembling trees, visually more appealing than the current urban umbrellas.

These designs from Arup and another firm, Practice for Architecture and Urbanism, represent a modest improvement (the DOB intends to finalize plans later this year, pending City Council approval). Yet, the light blue and yellow paint job alongside a partially transparent synthetic roof doesn’t manage to tackle the core issue. Local Law 11 enforces a requirement for scaffolding during façade repairs, which is on a scale not seen in other cities.

The law, which has been around for 30 years, is still active despite revisions made under former Mayor Eric Adams’ “Get Sheds Down” initiative, which slightly eased the frequency of needed inspections and repairs. However, the final call for specific buildings still rests with the DOB.

Additionally, the new regulations fail to eliminate some of the law’s more problematic stipulations, meaning the scaffolding must extend 20 feet beyond the work site—this often detracts from nearby storefronts and entrances.

To understand how much better our streets could look with fewer of these sheds, city planners might want to take a glance at Chicago and Philadelphia. Both have many large, historical buildings yet manage to maintain cleaner, shed-free sidewalks, unlike New York.

New York City’s scaffolding regulations were introduced to protect pedestrians from falling debris. Interestingly, hospitals in Chicago and Philadelphia don’t seem to be overwhelmed with such incidents. Perhaps it’s worth noting that neither city has enacted laws primarily benefiting scaffold rental businesses—a situation that seems rather unique to New York.