Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar sponsored a new law signed by Hochul that cuts back on some of the bureaucratic red tape surrounding construction projects by allowing owners or lessees access to adjoining properties for needed repairs or affordable housing projects. The bill aims to streamline the process by cutting down on legal disputes between property owners, setting up clearer definitions in the existing real property actions and proceedings law and expanding the list of permitted activities.
The green walls surrounding construction on the streets are known as “sidewalk sheds” and often block sidewalks for the duration of the project. Larger projects, such as new affordable housing, can often require access to over ten neighboring lots in the surrounding area for safety practices, which can prolong its timeline. In some cases, that extra time has cost an extra $800,000 to $1 million. The blight of continual construction on the City even rallied former Mayor Eric Adams to start a full campaign, “Get Those Sheds Down,” in 2024 after releasing a study that showed scaffolding and sidewalk sheds cost businesses up to $10,000 a month.
