Why there is so many scaffolding in New York?

【Interesting News】New York scaffolding outlook is improving

New York are used to seeing constructionscaffoldingthroughout the city, but what happens when a building's scaffolding has been used for few months?

The result is a dense spread of scaffolding that many visitors and newcomers can't imagine spreading across the streets and alleys.

City records analyzed by the New York Post found that some buildings have had scaffolding for more than a decade: in Harlem, scaffolding has covered part of 409 Edgecombe Avenue since 2006; and at 360 Central Park West on the Upper West Side since 2008 (the building owner claims it has only been there for six years). Even the Broadway offices, where the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) itself is located, are tangled in scaffolding that has been covering a portion of the building since 2008, ironically enough.

So why is this happening?

New York City city regulations governing the city require the city to inspect building facades every five years, leading some property owners to fight to keep the scaffolding to avoid the expense of having it removed and rebuilt every few years.

City Councilman Ben Kallos has been trying to fight back since 2016, when he introduced legislation that would limit building facade repairs to 90 days and only extend them for 90 days, and require scaffolding removal if no work is performed.

Scaffolding in New York City: not only unsightly, but also a safety hazard in extreme weather conditions

Interpretation: As a historic metropolis, routine inspection and maintenance of the building facade is necessary, otherwise it would be too easy for masonry to fall from a height and kill and injure people. But it would be a disappointing outcome if these landlords were to choke on the scaffolding they have built for the purpose of overhaul. Hopefully, the legislature will find a proper solution in the New Year. Here, we suggest that an amendment could be devised that would specify separate scaffolding rules based on the age of the building and the type of facade。