Scaffolding in place even though work hasn’t started in 5 years

The city has shelled out thousands of dollars a month since 2009 to rent sidewalk sheds to protect pedestrians from construction outside a Brooklyn courthouse — even though work has yet to start.

“In five years, we haven’t seen a soul doing any work. It’s a shame — all that money sitting out there,’’ groused a courthouse veteran.

“I wouldn’t mind if work was being done, but nothing. It’s sad, but that’s the way the city does business.’’

The Department of Citywide Administrative Services first informed courthouse workers in a memo in February 2009 that “sidewalk shedding will be installed around building . . . for approximately two months.”

The city then began paying a scaffolding company $ 2,862 monthly for the sheds outside the downtown entrances to Brooklyn’s supreme court for civil matters.

After 64 months, the tab is now more than $ 180,000 — yet none of the planned facade repair work has even started at 360 Adams St.

DCAS spokeswoman Julianne Cho said the job still has to be officially transferred to another city agency, the Department of Design and Construction, before work can actually begin. That should happen sometime this year, she said.

Signs posted on the construction sheds read “Twin and Swing Scaffolding.”Photo: Riyad Hasan

“The shedding was erected in 2009 per [the law] to protect the public, in preparation for facade repair and cleaning,’’ Cho said. “Since that time, funding has been obtained and design work completed for the intended repairs.”

The project involves cleaning and repairing the building’s exterior, mortar, and window supports, Cho said.

The Department of Design and Construction “will execute the required work, which will occur after the project is transferred from DCAS to DDC,” she said.

She did not respond to an e-mail asking why DCAS has moved at a glacial pace before beginning work.

Signs posted on the sheds read “Twin and Swing Scaffolding,” referring to a Long Island City company bought last year by Safway.

The shedding was put up the same year that the city’s new rule for facade inspection kicked in. The rule requires owners of buildings higher than six stories to hire engineers to inspect for cracks, loose bricks and other issues every five years.

The rule has caused the amount of city sidewalk sheds and scaffolding to shoot up, with the 2013 figure 25 percent higher than 2009.

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