New York City has removed about 1,200 sidewalk sheds since January, reducing their number by more than 15% in 10 months as the Mamdani administration works to improve pedestrian access and introduce brighter, more open designs.
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor Leila Bozorg and Buildings Commissioner Ahmed Tigani announced the progress Oct. 19, 2026. Two new designs by architecture firm Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU) are on display outside the Department of Buildings headquarters in Lower Manhattan.
Two additional designs by architecture firm Arup were showcased earlier this summer.
“In the greatest city in the world, New Yorkers shouldn’t have to accept dark, obstructed sidewalks as a fact of life. We’re taking down sheds that don’t need to be there and building a better alternative for the ones that do. That means brighter sidewalks, clearer storefronts and better public spaces that work for the people who use them every day,” said Mayor Mamdani.
The initiative aims to restore sidewalk space, improve visibility for storefronts and allow more natural light onto city streets while maintaining essential safety protections. Reducing unnecessary sheds could also improve the walking experience for residents, visitors and people accessing local businesses across the five boroughs.
The new designs include the Baseline Shed, which features transparent polycarbonate decking and an angled roof to increase natural light and improve sightlines. The Speed Shed, intended for lighter-duty use, uses rockfall netting to catch debris while allowing light through. Detachable wheels allow the structure to be moved between locations as needed.
The Department of Buildings has also strengthened oversight under Local Laws 48 and 51 of 2025, introducing more frequent permit renewals and stronger penalties for sheds that remain in place when no active work is underway. Additional regulations limit unnecessary shed coverage across large properties, including public housing and university campuses.
The city owns the PAU and Arup designs, which may be freely copied to encourage wider adoption. The department expects to finalize rules allowing the new designs to be used citywide before the end of 2026.
In the meantime, the PAU prototypes remain on display outside the department's Lower Manhattan headquarters, giving the public an opportunity to see the proposed alternatives to traditional pipe-and-plywood sheds.
