These two laws seem similar on the surface. So what are the differences between ADA and LL58/87.

ADA and LL58/87 are frequently confused, but the two are distinctly different.

In 1987, New York passed Local Law 58, a landmark law mandating that residences be built to accommodate the handicapped.

Prior to 1990, a wheelchair-bound person would have been hard-pressed to access most public places. The ADA has helped.