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New York City Mayor Eric Adams has declared a renewed commitment to reclaiming public spaces by removing long-standing sidewalk sheds that have cluttered city streets for years.

At a public hearing on five new bills supporting the ‘Get Sheds Down’ initiative, Adams emphasized the need to make sidewalks safer, cleaner, and more vibrant for all New Yorkers.

“Today, I am holding a hearing on five bills that help bring down sheds and scaffoldings across our city and reclaim public spaces,” Mayor Adams said. “That’s something that’s important for New Yorkers—to just see the sunlight, and those sheds have been up for quite some time.”

While acknowledging the original purpose of sidewalk sheds—to protect pedestrians from unsafe buildings and construction sites—Adams stressed that many have overstayed their welcome. “We have allowed too many to languish for years or even decades, crowding our sidewalks and darkening our streets.”

The Mayor noted how deeply embedded the problem has become in the city’s landscape. “I hear people often state that the shed has been up as long as they can remember and they grew up not believing that the sheds would ever come down.”

“Our goal is to Get Sheds Down,” Adams declared. “They’re bad for public safety, they’re bad for small businesses, and it’s time to get them down.”

Adams highlighted the economic and social benefits of removing the sheds: “When long-standing sheds come down, New Yorkers see a big difference—safer buildings, more light and space, less crime, less mess, and more foot traffic for our small businesses.”

The five bills under consideration include:

Intro. 393-A: Increases oversight of sidewalk shed permits and introduces monthly penalties for delayed repairs.

Intro. 391-A: Allows the Department of Buildings to implement new shed designs, including color options and size reductions for taller buildings.

Intro. 394-A: Grants the Department of Buildings more authority over exterior inspections of tall buildings.

Intro. 660-A: Requires LED lighting under sidewalk sheds to enhance visibility and pedestrian safety.

Intro. 661-A: Imposes penalties on taller buildings that fail to meet façade repair deadlines.

“New York City sidewalks must be safe for New Yorkers who use them, and they need to look as good as the people who walk on them,” Adams said, reinforcing the broader goals of the initiative.

The Mayor also gave credit to key figures driving the effort, including Commissioner Jimmy Oddo, Councilmembers Bottcher and Powers, Councilwoman Sanchez, and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.

Concluding the hearing, Adams stated, “Get Sheds Down has a whole-of-government effort and a whole-of-government approach, and we want to ensure that we continue to move in the right direction.”