Sprinkler law challenges city and bldg. owners
BY TODD MAISEL
The city’s Department of Buildings
will begin enforcing a commercial
sprinkler law passed in 2004
requiring all New York City landlords to
install the fi re prevention equipment.
Despite the 15-year window for property
owners to get up to code, it was
revealed at a November City Council
committee hearing that about 1,100
buildings were still not in compliance
with the Local Law 26 — and 86 building
owners have completely ignored city
notifi cations.
The window offi cially closed Dec.
1, and all commercial building owners
are required to have installed sprinkler
systems in their buildings throughout
the city, including numerous city owned
structures.
“Our goal is compliance,” said Andrew
Rudansky, a spokesman for the
Department of Buildings. “Building
owners who fail to comply with DOB
orders regarding these sprinkler requirements
may face additional violations,
which carry additional associated
civil penalties, until they come into
compliance.”
Buildings offi cials revealed that 983
buildings have been issued Environmental
Control Board violations for
non-compliance with the sprinkler
requirements. Offi cials indicate that
As the City Council considers a bill that would force residential property
owners to install sprinklers in buildings over 40 feet, the DOB is
still trying to find a way to bring commercial properties into compliance
with a law passed in 2004.
these buildings are in various stages of
compliance with the law, as many are
actively engaged in sprinkler installation
projects. The violations come with
civil penalties of $1,250 which can be
waived if building owners certify that
they are in compliance with Local Law
26 within 40 days of the issuance.
Some of the more notable buildings
on the list include the Trump Building at
40 Wall Street and the New York Stock
Exchange – many of the older Wall
PHOTO BY TODD MAISEL
Street buildings were listed as non-compliant.
Some of the city buildings were
owned by Department of Corrections,
Parks and Education.
Continued noncompliance with
these regulations could result in additional
fi nes, with civil penalties of up to
$25,000. Buildings will be subject to reinspection
every 60 days — which could
add to the total monetary damages.
Experts in sprinkler installation told
amNewYork full compliance with the
law is diffi cult because older buildings
may require expensive asbestos abatement;
some businesses might also need
to be relocated during renovations.
Installing sprinkler systems can cost
upwards of $4 a foot — making the installation
process very costly for some
owners to afford. Once a system is installed,
property owners are further required
to have an engineer inspect every
fl oor of their building to certify compliance
with the law.
In addition to city penalties, commercial
owners face liability should there be
a fi re in their building provided that they
are not in code compliance. One expert
said, “An insurance company might not
even want to cover damage or injuries in
a fi re and that might fall on the owner.”
As the city presses demands for sprinkler
compliance, the City Council is
considering a bill introduced by Queens
Councilman Barry Grodenchik, which
will require residential buildings 40
feet or taller to have sprinklers installed
within 10 years of the bill signing. The
bill will be considered in the 2020 session.
While it may be diffi cult for some
landlords to afford sprinklers and problematic
in many cases, Grodenchik
maintained that it is necessary because
“the need is so real because 85 percent
of fi res are in residential buildings and
most of the fatalities are residential.”
Celebrities get into holiday spirit in Midtown
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Even A-Listers get festive goosebumps
during the countdown to
light the big tree.
Year after year, the majestic Rockefeller
Center Christmas Tree lighting is
the pinnacle moment that marks a start
to the holiday season for many New
Yorkers and high profi le fi gures alike.
Last night’s tree lighting, the fi nal one
of the decade, proved to be a shining
moment for all the above as performers
and celebrities were more than spirited
as they told amNewYork their upcoming
holidays plans waiting for the lights
to go on in the famed plaza.
Michael Luwoye, the famed “Hamilton”
lead actor whose now reprising the
role of Anthony Little on Bluff City Law
had more to celebrate than just Christmas
this December as his birthday is
just a near two weeks away. Luwoye
told amNewYork that he wanted to relax
while enjoying his birthday and holidays
after a year of bouncing around,
fi lming for the new NBC show.
In lieu of a new year’s resolution, Luwoye
says that he “prefers to live in the
moment than to think about changes
for next year.”
Nia Franklin, better known as Miss
PK Subban and Lindsey Vonn skate at Bryant Park on Dec. 4.
America, has her sights dead set on the
new year. That’s when she’ll be releasing
a new hip-hop single and hopes to
return to Rockefeller Center to perform
at the fi rst tree lighting of the new decade,
in 2020.
The talented pageant winner also
said she’ll be heading home to North
Carolina to see family this holiday season.
For one of the night’s performers,
home is a little closer — Rockland
PHOTO COURTESY OF RED BULL
County to be exact.
Skylar Astin joined his future TV
co-star of Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,
Alex Newell in a few holiday duets
that blew the proverbial walls down at
Rockefeller Center that night.
The Pitch Perfect actor told amNew-
York when he called his mom right after
getting the news that he would be
performing at the tree lighting.
“She was in the front row tonight
waving me on,” he said.
One celebrity newcomer and benefactor
of the night also came in festive
style with family.
The donor of the 77-foot Norwegian
Spruce, Carol Shultz of chilly Florida in
update New York, was spotted walking
through the plaza wearing Christmas
tree glasses while bundled up for the
big night.
After planting the tree as a little girl,
Schultz says if she plants another one
it will “have lights on it and stay home
this time around.”
Although technically not at Rockefeller
Center Wednesday night, newly
acquired New Jersey Devils defenseman
PK Subban and his Olympic gold
medal-fi ancee Lindsey Vonn were also
getting into the holiday spirit in midtown.
The happy couple skated and played
hockey with fans at Bryant Park as part
of a promotional event with Red Bull,
celebrating the energy drink’s new winter
edition.
After the two played some intense
bubble hockey at the rink’s lounge
(which Subban one in commanding
fashion), they invited skaters at Bryant
Park to join in the fun on real ice, giving
plenty of kids and adults alike a night
they won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
4 December 12, 2019 Schneps Media