Mock Anniversary Party Set For UWS Building Covered In Scaffold

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The scaffolding shed first went up outside a building at 51 West 86th Street in 2006. Then, on Oct. 6, 2020, without warning from the building's management, the scaffold was extended along with a new net to the full height of the 16-story Upper West Side property.

On Saturday, frustrated residents are holding a mock celebration in front of the building to mark the one-year anniversary of the extended scaffolding.

The residents, who say they have been kept in the dark by the building's landlord Weinreb Management, have prepared a chant and some slogans for the day.

Chant

Weinreb! You are such a clown! Take the shed and scaffold down!

Shed's been here since oh-oh-six! But the facade has not been fixed!

Fifteen years is way too long! No excuse! It's just plain wrong!

Weinreb, you are such a clown! Do the work! Take this eyesore down!

The slogans include, "Weinreb, stop clowning around!" and "Weinreb, don't leave us in the dark!".

Weinreb Management again did not respond to Patch's request for comment.

A tenant of the building told Patch that UWS City Council Member Helen Rosenthal has agreed to speak at the event, and invitations are also pending for Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and City Council Member Ben Kallos.

The tenant, who wished to remain unnamed, added that while the mock anniversary will be good-natured, it is also a "serious way for tenants to continue to share publicly our HUGE frustration about the sidewalk shed and scaffolding we are living under."

The famous NYC clown and magician Silly Billy will also make an appearance at the event, which explains some of the clown references in the chant.

The mock celebration will take place Saturday outside of 51 West 86th Street from 3 to 5 p.m.

More Context

The 51 West 86th Street address is within the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District, meaning that Weinreb Management does have to go through the Landmarks Planning Commission to make changes to the building.

Weinreb Management filed a new application on Sept. 8 with Landmarks for restoration and facade work, which remains under review.

Previously, Weinreb Management allowed multiple permits to expire without completing the corresponding work.

An investigation from Patch also found that Weinreb Management owns 11 Manhattan properties and 10 of them have active sidewalk sheds.

Read More:

• Scaffold Covers UWS Building For 15 Years, Residents Say
• Scaffold Covers Nearly All Of UWS Landlord's Buildings: See It