It’s the end of an era and the dawn of a new day. The PS 234 sidewalk shed — which by official reports has been up since 2017 but for neighbors that should be translated into dog years — is finally coming down. Thanks to KS, KD, A and others for the notes and photos.
It’s sad and exhausting that a project would be stalled for this long. But at least there were some notifiable improvements. Longtime Tribecan Donna Dennis’ fence was taken off site to be restored and then was returned this summer. The sidewalk shed removal started around mid-August.
The School Construction Authority also did some interior work and painting this summer.
The sidewalk sheds were up for at least six years before any work was done. The work was first scheduled to begin in November 2022, and then really got going in March 2023.
NYC has a major scaffolding issue. They stay up forever and become outdoor homeless shelters and clandestine locations for drug dealing and other street crime. The city needs to figure out how to balance the demands of Local Law 11 with common sense public safety and quality of life.