At CANY, our work mostly looks up, ensuring the buildings that make New Yorkers proud are safe and well restored to benefit future generations. But sometimes, we look down, ensuring our sidewalks and plazas are safe, well maintained and strong enough to support modern day life. This includes the vaults, the spaces beneath abuilding that encroach into the public right of way.
New York City is serious about safety, making property owners potentially liable for injuries caused by unsafe public access areas. Poorly maintained with slip, trip or fall hazards, defective or dislodged sidewalk flags, improper slopes, or non-compliant repairs can evoke DOT violation orders. The DOT could impose a lien, preventing a building sale, or do corrective work themselves, incurring costs plus administration fees. Upgrading commercial space legally obliges the building owner to improve all public rights of way, potentially necessitating adherence to the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility specifications.
CANY understands how buildings must safely interact with the public, and what can compromise that relationship. Often, it arises from water infiltration caused by failure of waterproofing, poor drainage or leaking utilities, leading to corrosion of supporting steel structures, damage to walls, vault space, and/or sidewalks. Terracotta and brick arches in older vaults can crumble and weaken under the weight of modern living. Road signage, cranes and emergency vehicles can all impact on the stability of the vault space.
We work with the owners, contractors, utility companies, the DOT and transportation networks to determine the source of the problem and how to resolve it. We also help clients fulfil any additional approvals required from the Landmark Preservation Committee, for historic districts, and the Public Design Commission for non-standard materials.
If you have a concern about your sidewalks, plazas or vaults, contact Joe Badolato, Chief Strategy Officer, jbadolato@cany.com who can talk you through the options available.
Footnote: Additional information can be found following these links
NYC Administrative Code Sidewalk Rules
NYC DOT Infrastructure - Sidewalks
NYC DOT Street Design Manual - Sidewalks
NYC DOB - Alterations: Builders Pavement Plan (BPP)
NYC DOB - Encroachments Into the Public Right of Way
