Scaffolding Fortress Comes Down At Upper West Side School After Years

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A little over a year after Patch first reported on a fortress of scaffolding that had blanketed an Upper West Side school for years, the sidewalk shed, netting, and metal poles finally came down outside of P.S. 333 Manhattan School For Children on Nov. 30.

The scaffolding had swathed the school on West 93rd Street between Amsterdam and Columbus for close to seven years, stopping natural light from entering the building, covering up its elegant frontside facade, and creating a potentially dangerous obstacle course of construction materials for five to 14-year-olds.

"The entire Manhattan School for Children community is very excited that the scaffolding has finally come down and we have our school back," Gui Stampur, a parent, told Patch in a text message. "The kids have their place space back, natural light is finally flowing in through the majestic school windows and its removal has created an air of excitement."

Here is what the front of the school used to look like.

Here is what it looks like now.

The longevity of the seven-year construction project and corresponding sidewalk shed and scaffolding means that most students at P.S. 333 have never seen the front or back of their school building.

The School Construction Authority, which oversees projects at New York City public schools, told Patch that the work took so long both because of a problem with the original contractor and also a work stoppage caused by the pandemic.

In November of 2021, the Department of Buildings told Patch that it tentatively expected the work at the Upper West Side school to be completed by December 2022, which is a date they hit.

After leading the charge to get the scaffolding and sidewalk shed removed, Stampur is now turning his attention to a new project within the school.

"Now that the scaffolding is FINALLY gone, it is time to build an inclusive playground that meets the need of all children at the school," Stampur said.

The playground was previously covered by construction materials.

Stampur asked that anyone who wants to help build a more inclusive playground at the school email [email protected]