Residents, Fire Officials Want Huge Vehicle Cage on West 77th Street Removed

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Driving through the stretch of West 77th Street between Amsterdam and Broadway feels less like navigating a city street and more like squeezing through a narrow trench.

Work zones for two residential developments on the block, as well as renovations in a fire department building, have forced the fire department to store their vehicles in a giant cage, taking up valuable street space. The cage, and the space taken up by the private developments force drivers to zig-zag between lanes just to get down the street.

Now Upper West Side residents and fire officials are saying that they want the cage gone.

During the Community Board 7 Transportation Committee Meeting on July 12 residents of one of the block's buildings requested the Fire Department move the cage.

But Manhattan Borough Commander Roger Sakowich said that the cage was not fire department property.

"We don't own the cage, the gentleman who built the high rise across the street built the cage," Sakowich said.

The installation of the cage was necessary because the fire department could not store the engine in the firehouse due to the construction on the block.

"[There are] plastic barricades out in the road, and that rig is too long and can't make the turn without going on the sidewalk," Sakowich said.

Along with taking up space, the cage has proved to be a loud nuisance. Every day firefighters have to perform tests, which they can usually do in the firehouse but now have to perform on the street. Additionally, the cage scrapes on the floor of the street every time they open the door.

The cage is expected to remain until at least Aug. 1, but may have to stay longer if the developers do not finish construction on time.