N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 22-119: § 22-119 Commissioner may repair certain structures on privately-owned water front property and deepen adjoining water.

a. Where the owner of any privately-owned water front property, wharf, pier, dock or bulkhead, the structures wholly or partly thereon or such other structures used on such water front property in conjunction with and in furtherance of water front commerce and/or navigation fails to comply with an order of the commissioner, made pursuant to section seven hundred four of the charter, directing that repairs be made to such structures for the purpose of keeping them in a proper condition for use, or fails to comply with an order made pursuant to such section directing that the water near or adjoining any privately-owned water front property be deepened by excavating or removing the earth, mud, dirt or sand therefrom in such places and at such times as the commissioner may determine, such commissioner may himself or herself perform any or all of such work.

b. The expense incurred by such deepening or repairs shall be a lien or charge upon the property or premises benefited.