Decade-Long Sidewalk Shed Saga at Brooklyn Courthouse

City Council member calls the long-standing scaffolding "embarrassing" as repairs finally get underway.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The Brooklyn Supreme Court building on Adams Street has had continuous sidewalk sheds up since 2007, originally erected to protect pedestrians and workers after inspectors identified potential hazards with the building's aging facade. But the scaffolding has remained in place for over a decade, becoming a long-term fixture in the neighborhood. City Council Member Lincoln Restler has been urging the city to start repairs, and work is now officially underway to fix the courthouse's facade and roof and remove the scaffolding.

Why it matters

The situation at the Brooklyn Courthouse highlights a citywide problem with long-standing sidewalk sheds across New York. As of March 2026, there were 1.8 million linear feet of sidewalk sheds across the five boroughs, with an average age of 18 months. The prolonged presence of these structures can be an eyesore and inconvenience for local residents and businesses.

The details

The sidewalk shed at 360 Adams Street may be one of the most notorious in Downtown Brooklyn, according to the Department of Buildings' map of active sidewalk shed permits. The structure was originally erected in 2007 to protect pedestrians and workers after inspectors identified potential hazards with the building's aging facade. However, the scaffolding has remained in place for over a decade, becoming a long-term fixture in the neighborhood. City Council Member Lincoln Restler, who has been urging the city to start repairs since taking office, called the long-standing scaffolding "embarrassing."

  • The sidewalk shed was first installed in 2007.
  • As of March 2026, the sidewalk shed had been in place for over a decade.
  • Contractors from the Department of Design and Construction began installing additional scaffolding last week to begin construction work.
  • The project is expected to be completed by fall 2027.

The players

Lincoln Restler

A City Council member who has been urging the city to start repairs on the Brooklyn Courthouse facade since taking office.

Department of Buildings

The city agency that maintains a map of active sidewalk shed permits, including the one at the Brooklyn Courthouse.

Department of Design and Construction

The city agency that is overseeing the construction work to repair the Brooklyn Courthouse facade and remove the long-standing sidewalk shed.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The project to repair the Brooklyn Courthouse facade and remove the long-standing sidewalk shed is expected to be completed by fall 2027.

The takeaway

The prolonged presence of sidewalk sheds across New York City, including the notorious case at the Brooklyn Courthouse, highlights the need for more efficient and timely facade repair processes to minimize the impact on local communities. The proposed updates to the city's facade safety regulations aim to address this issue, but the resolution of long-standing cases like this one remains an ongoing challenge.