Top 5 Tips on Keeping the Sidewalk Safe
Many of us have been there. Face down after stumbling on an uneven or slippery sidewalk. We are not talking on the way home from a happy hour. We are talking about broad daylight when going to the store or the subway. That begs for the question, who is responsible for the sidewalks?
The short answer is- it is the building’s or responsibility maintain and repair the abutting sidewalk! For a residential building like a coop, condo or rental, it’s their responsibility. If the building has commercial space on the first floor, it’s the commercial tenant’s responsibility. See details here and here.
Did you know that, according to Google, New York City has over 12,000 miles of sidewalks? The NYC DOT oversees regulation of pedestrian safety and requires sidewalks to be smooth and even, free of defects and debris, and provide a safe place for New Yorkers to walk, use a wheelchair, or push a stroller or shopping cart.
Our top tips on keeping your sidewalk up to par:
Snow removal: Make sure to include snow removal in the building’s employee handbook and training. Communicate with the staff to make sure that they come properly dressed for being out in the snow. Have the superintendent train the staff on snow removal techniques and equipment. Last, but not least, if all residents say thank you with a smile when the staff is shoveling snow, they will probably feel appreciated.
Uneven sidewalk: The DOT inspects the sidewalks regularly. If they see unsafe conditions, the building will be fined, read more here. Be a good NYC neighbor; if you see something say something. We’re not suggesting that you report it to 311. Our recommendation is to report it to the doorman or super so that they can have management address the unsafe conditions. Violations only complicate things and could result in subsequent problems (like restrictions on taking out mortgages!).
Public garbage cans: Overflowing garbage cans cause a lot of complaints by residents. Although they might not be a responsibility of your building, making sure that your super properly communicates with all building staff, including domestic workers, that the public garbage cans are not to be used for domestic garbage. All garbage from the building should be disposed by the building on the designated garbage days.
Dog poop: Picking up after dogs is the responsibility of the dog owner, not the building. Surprisingly, not all dog owners adhere to this law. When that happens, asking the front desk if they can send someone out to remove any “left-overs” makes New York City a more neighborly place.
Overgrown tree-pits: This is the responsibility of the NYC Parks department. Current regulations require buildings that replace or restore sidewalks to enlarge the new tree-pits. Check with an exterior engineering professional before starting your sidewalk repairs. Read more about sidewalk responsibilities and repairs by Sullivan Engineering a Rimkus Company, a qualified exterior engineer with extensive experience with codes, sidewalks, and buildings.
We hope these tips help you keep your sidewalk, staff, residents, and neighbors safe.
At The Folson Group, our goal is to inspire you to run your building like a business. We enable and inspire co-op or condo board engagements to be filled with a feeling of accomplishment, excitement, meaning, happiness, and increased probability of success.
For other best practices for co-op and condo boards, get our FREE Policies and Procedures Checklist emailed straight to your inbox.
Email us at info@thefolsongroup.com or call us at (917) 648-8154 to find out more.