DOB to back down on roof terrace crack down

After initially standing by its recent crackdown on office roof terraces, claiming that the outdoor spaces can only be used for plants, the New York City Department of Buildings is said to be backing down.

The DOB performed an about-face after meeting with Department of City Planning officials, who advised its sister agency that the use of office building terraces “as open passive recreation space” is allowed, according to the New York Post. Following the meeting, the DOB sent landlords a memo stating that terraces are okay.

Landlords had also pushed back, arguing that the DOB is misinterpreting a 1961 zoning provision that “all uses must be contained within enclosed buildings.” The measure, according to landlords, was intended to stop building owners from using the roof spaces for flea markets at the time.

“We are glad to clear this up and make sure we have common-sense rules that reflect the real world of what tenants want and need,” Melissa Grace, a spokesperson for Mayor de Blasio, said. [NYP] –Christopher Cameron

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