Truck stop

Photograph: Jolie Ruben

Q What is the story with the heating truck parked outside the MacDougal Street Ale House (between Bleecker and West 3rd Streets)? It has been there for months and is a horrible eyesore. The city even resealed MacDougal Street and went around the truck. Can you believe that?—Chris Lowrey, Greenwich Village

A We believe it. The truck is a temporary boiler from SJ Fuel Co., a Brooklyn company that provides heat and hot water to buildings undergoing repairs. “If there were issues with the building’s gas lines, the contractor would have to get approval from the city and Con Ed before they turned them back on,” says SJ service manager Andrew. “Nine times out of ten, it’s Con Ed” that they’re waiting on, he says, but the trucks are a necessity: “In the winter, people want heat, and in the summer they want hot water.” So picky, you New Yorkers!

When these trucks block a resurfacing project, they’re not forced to move; the city just finishes up later. “This is a fairly common occurrence,” says Monty Dean of New York City Department of Transportation. Look for the paving trucks to return once the building is back up to snuff.—Allison Williams

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