Why Are There So Many Scaffoldings in New York?
New York is filled with scaffoldings! Yet some remain in place for years with no work progressing. Here's the explanation.
Scaffolding everywhere in New York City
- You’ll quickly notice that many New York buildings are surrounded by scaffolding. In many cases, you’ll see renovation work underway on the facade. But often, you won’t see a single worker on the job. The scaffolding just sits there on the building, with nothing happening.
- And these aren’t isolated cases. More than 1,400 New York buildings are covered in scaffolding even though no work is taking place, according to the New York Times. Some scaffolding has been up for decades. You’ll see the same ones on every trip to New York. You’ll spot plenty of them in the Financial District and in Midtown.
No work happening, but it’s a safety issue
- So why all this scaffolding? These 1,400 structures were installed because of structural problems on the facades. They protect pedestrians from falling stones and other debris.
- In theory, building owners should carry out the necessary renovation work. But some owners refuse to do so, and the situation stays as is, despite warnings and fines. The temporary solution is to install a protective structure over the sidewalk. A temporary fix that can last for years.
- This isn’t a minor issue. When renovation work isn’t done and buildings are left to deteriorate, accidents happen. In December 2019, a 60-year-old woman was killed by debris that fell from a facade on 49th Street, near 7th Avenue, in the heart of Midtown. The building had no protective barriers.
