Inside Track: King Jack’s 99th Dream

Scaffold Bridges, Jack Kirby, Donatello the Turtle, Disquiet Marc, Matthew the Doorman, Matt the Labyrinth Builder, and Luna open a door that freezes time

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One night in December 2024, last time I was in New York City, around 10pm, holding my dog Luna in one arm, I walked through the lobby of my parents’ NYC crash pad, The Gotham Condominiums. We were on our way to the street for what I hoped to be her last walk of the night.

“Buona sera!” exclaimed Matthew, The Gotham’s 3p to 11p doorman. He opened the door and stepped out into the sidewalk, underneath scaffolding erected a year ago to comply with New York City’s Local Law 11 facade inspection mandate.

“Is it raining?” I asked Matthew.

“No, Westy,” he said, “it stopped. But you know what else stopped?”

“No, Matthew. Tell me.”

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Revised in 2021, Local Law 11 mandates every building in New York City over 6 stories must have its facade (“exterior walls and appurtenances”) inspected every 5 years — up close, on a scaffold.