New York City has released a new study that concludes that sheds and scaffolding on sidewalks negatively affect businesses in Manhattan. In short: the analysis found that the presence of these structures hurt sales.
In cooperation with Mastercard, the municipality found that cardholders spend between $3,900 and $9,500 less each month at businesses located in buildings with this type of coverage.
Restaurants and bars are the hardest hit, with a reported 3.5 to 9.7% decline in weekly transactions in the six months following the construction of these trusses and platforms.
Last year, the Eric Adams administration launched its “Tear Down the Sheds” plan, a series of nine initiatives aimed at forcing building owners to make necessary repairs quickly so that these unsightly structures don’t remain in one place for years.
“Some of these sheds have been in place for decades. That’s bad for public safety, bad for our city, and as this study shows us, bad for business. We’ve already torn down 178 miles last year. The package of bills we’re working on will allow us to flip the script so they’re done,” the mayor said.
Less time on permits
The aim is to reduce the duration of permits for these structures and to impose new penalties if building repairs are not carried out in a timely manner.
Since the plan was announced, 259 sheds that had been standing for more than five years have been removed from the streets, and the oldest shed in the city, which had stood in Harlem for more than 21 years, was also removed from the street scene.
Earlier this summer, the Department of Buildings (DOB) launched a review of the City’s Facade Inspection and Safety Program, colloquially known as “Local Law 11” inspections, in partnership with international engineering consulting firm Thornton Tomasetti.
Local Law 11 requires building owners to hire private inspectors to perform facade maintenance inspections, with a rigid set of regulations unique to all buildings over six stories tall.
While current regulations require property owners to inspect and mitigate any hazards found in buildings with these protections, they do not do enough to encourage repairs.
Urban landscapes
Additionally, the City is working with design firms to reimagine pedestrian safety infrastructure, which is expected to be on the streets by 2025. In addition, a program has been launched that will allow for artwork where these supports and roofs are located.
Meanwhile, DOB Commissioner Jimmy Oddo reinforced that sidewalk sheds are an important safety tool to protect the public from unsafe building conditions. But when building owners leave them standing for years, they deprive New Yorkers of vibrant streetscapes and take money out of the pockets of small business owners.
“This study makes it clear that we need stronger enforcement tools to force property owners to make repairs to their buildings more quickly,” he said.
Data:
- There are 9,000 sidewalk sheds in the Big Apple, stretching together for more than 400 miles—longer than the length of the Grand Canyon.
- Spending in bars and restaurants where these structures are located is 9.7% less.