Saturday, May 22, 2021

[Updated] Woman dies after falling from Avenue A rooftop; Rivera demands review of building enforcement procedures

According to several nearby residents, a woman attending a rooftop party at 202 Avenue A fell to her death early this morning. Local City Councilmember Carlina Rivera's office confirmed the tragedy.

Rivera's office stated that it was "a dangerously overcrowded rooftop party" here between 12th Street and 13th Street. 

Following the death, Rivera is calling on City Council to address tenant and landlord neglect of rooftop events, "as well as for an official review of the lack of agency enforcement by DOB, DEP, FDNY and NYPD of dangerous rooftop parties in Manhattan."

Earlier this week, East Village residents noted the ongoing disruptive rooftop parties at 330 E. Sixth St., prompting other reports of addresses holding similar events. 

According to a media advisory from Rivera's office late this afternoon:
[T]his event is just the latest in a string of documented and reported weekly parties that far exceed safe occupancy levels and often feature concert-level amplified sound on a series of East Village rooftops. Partygoers have even recently been reported to be jumping from rooftop to rooftop during these gatherings. 
Electeds have sent letters to City Hall and building managers, but agencies have failed to respond to these hazardous conditions. Community boards have followed up directly with the appropriate agencies but have received inadequate answers.
Rivera is working on two bills to address this issue — one introduced that would require tenants to sign and acknowledge their understanding of the city's noise codes. Another that is planned to be introduced soon requires better oversight of rooftop use and capacity.

Tomorrow morning at 10, Rivera, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, State Sen. Brad Hoylman, local Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, reps from Community Board 3 and the local block association will gather outside 202 Avenue A to discuss the new bills. 

The NYPD continues to investigate last night's rooftop death. The victim's name has not yet been released. 

--

Update: According to the Post, the woman was 24 and lived on Delancey. She was reportedly climbing from 202 Avenue A to 200 Avenue A  around 3:30 a.m. when she lost her footing and fell between the buildings.

Update 2: Published reports identified the woman as Cameron Perrelli, a Connecticut native who worked in finance in Manhattan. 

Cameron’s father Louis Perrelli said, "It's not like her to be a risk-taker. She's not one to take those risks. I don’t get it. We don’t really know a lot. We got three stories — that she was jumping from one building to the next, and we heard that she was walking on an air-conditioning vent, and then somebody just said she slipped. Don't they have a fence on top of the building? They allow parties?"

--

As previously reported, workers added a horizontal and vertical enlargement of the existing 4-floor structure at 202 Avenue A, doubling the total square footage from 5,334 to 10,920. There are eight residences here at The Topanga. The penthouse units, featuring rooftop access, are renting for $12,000 monthly, per Streeteasy.

Highpoint Property Group bought No. 202 in a deal that closed in late 2017 for $6.75 million. 

79 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just the other day I posted a comment on your post about these rooftop parties. I noted the parties on the roof of the building on the corner of 12th and Avenue A and how as much as these people drive me crazy, I worry about one of them falling over the railing that they are always leaning over and standing on. And now this has happened just a couple of doors down. Something has to be done to shut down these parties.

yetanothercommenter said...

An "official review of the lack of agency enforcement" is long overdue here in DeBlasio-town though I doubt even a City Council member can get meaningful answers. I'm personally curious why DJs are allowed to set up outdoor festival level sound in Tompkins Square and blast house music after dark. Thunder volume for maybe four dancers last night. Who has instructed the cops to stand down?

12k a month? Without significant fines for the landlords it's all just more noise.

Anonymous said...

I hope other neighbors on upper Avenue A turn up tomorrow at 202 to urge Carlina Rivera and Harvey Epstein to do something about the noise from outdoor dining and the loss of sidewalk space. The corner of 12th and A is blocked by at least a dozen people waiting for tables at Au Za'atar. The restaurant has dramatically increased its capacity because it is lucky enough to be a corner with outdoor dining space in the road on the Avenue A side and in the road on the 12th Street side. The 12th Street outdoor dining structure comes up onto the curbside and there are curbside tables, a violation of the outdoor restaurant code. But the restaurant has yet to remove it despite neighbors reporting the situation to the DOT and Rivera's office. Between the rooftop parties and the crowds showing up for outdoor dining... it is nonstop hassle and noise for all of the tenants around here.

Giovanni said...

According to Lincoln Anderson at The Village Sun, the unnamed 24 year old woman was apparently trying to climb from one roof to another when she fell. She lived on Delancey Street. My condolences to her family and friends. This follows another incident of yet another woman who fell 6 stories from a rooftop party at 60 E. Third St last fall. It’s time to shut down these rooftop parties. Maybe the liability issues will finally convince landlords to do the right thing.

Anonymous said...

Heartbreaking! So young. My condolences to her loved ones. I can't even imagine.

The underlying issues are the obvious lack of regulations and concern from community leaders and landlords. I live in alphabet city and make it a point to never go out on Friday or Saturday evenings for this very reason. It is an absolute shit show out there. Most everyone is operating under the assumption that the pandemic is now over with most restaurants and bars at full capacity. It is impossible to safely navigate the streets during the day now let alone during the night. I have to turn on my air conditioner even during the winter to tune out the weekly roof top parties across the street from my apartment, which reminds me a lot of south beach in Miami. Given the complacency and glacial pace at which Rivera seems to normally work, her energy has been focused on tearing down our beloved east river park. I doubt anything will change in the near future unless she is elected out of office where we have someone who listens and cares.

Anonymous said...

I walked by 202 Avenue A a few minutes ago and on cue I heard some woo hoos and looked up to see idiots partying on the rooftop of the building on 13th and A.

hywel dda said...

I have reported 310 east 9 St over 3 times for dangerous & unsafe crowded rooftop parties (as well as deafeningly loud amplified LIVE music). No one has done one thing & it was only a matter of time before this happened. The city government & its alphabet soup of agencies never acts only reacts AFTER someone dies.

charles palmer said...

Count on appointed annointed clubhouse politician Rivera who does NOTHING about rampant gentrification, loss of mom and pop businesses and helping small property owners to make some hay out of this.

So Rivera "demands a review" of building "enforcement procedures"? The fault lies with those who buzz others into their buildings without making sure they know who they are and those who get rooftop access included with their leases. Simple as that.

On my block, there are roof parties every night that face roof parties on the roof of a building on the next block. The reverb effect is insane.

Other than rubberstamp anything that lame duck mayor deblazio wants, like destroying East River Park for the next 10 years, WHAT exactly has Rivera done to serve the interests of her constituency?

Anonymous said...

Roof hopping happens from 91 Second Ave to 239 E5th St all the time and then frat boys come into our building and down stairs drunkenly roaring and threatening tenants. Landlords and politicians and 311 (mayor) do zilch - someone dies - they make noise and then move on and all goes back to our neighborhood being run by loud, entitled, slumming bad boys and girls who will move on in a few years. Enough of the disrespectful party bros keeping us up all night, pissing and puking everywhere. We’re here all the time. This is our home - through 9/11, blackouts, Sandy etc., and we take care of each other. These frat boys and sorority gals wouldn’t know decency if it hit them in the face. Very Trumpian all round. White kids on the rampage because white kids feel entitled.

Anonymous said...

The rooftop parties hosted by these young gentrifiers this year alone have been rather very rowdy - they came back fo the city with a bang - that this was eventually bound to happen. It was only a matter of time. Not surprised at all.

Anonymous said...

7th/Ave A has been party central as well. I’m happy that NYC is back in business, but the Chads and Beckys partying out loud nightly makes me miss the good old quiet days of quarantine.

Anonymous said...

Sadly, these young gentrifiers will continue to party like nothing happened. Most of them will most likely not even know about this story. It’s only going to get worse this summer…

Carol from East 5th Street said...

Someone needs to take OWNERSHIP of this situation. Either Rivera's Office or CB 3. There should be one person responsible for contacting the Dept of Buildings, the NYPD, the FDNY and the SLA and someone who does not say "not my job".

Anonymous said...

So horrible. The poor girl, terribly sad.

I live at 333 East 6th street. We were at the police station this afternoon, May 22nd. We were complaining about this very problem. We told the police officers about people on our roof last night at 3am. They were attending a party on 1st Avenue and East 6th street. After they left the party, they started climbing across the roofs heading west. They were on our roof drinking beer, and then left our roof and climbed onto David Schwimmer's roof at 331 East 6th Street.

It is time the police, and the community shut down large parties on East Village roofs. It's not safe, and it's disturbing the peace!

Anonymous said...

It is even more dangerous than people think. The party goers besides drinking alcohol, are also smoking both cigarettes and weed. And they leave trash on the roofs, throw their lit matches onto the roof. Which can catch fire. If these roof parties continue, watch out for July 4 in the EV.

Anonymous said...

Well, a rooftop party just started on my street---it's after midnight now so it won't end for hours. Assholes!

Anonymous said...

Countless rooftop parties around me too. I nervously watched someone around 2am wonder off from the huge rooftop party on the NW corner of 6th St and 1st, and peer over the rooftop edge. It would have been so easy to fall.

Ali Babba said...

As a building superintendent, our management policy purohits tenants and their guests from going to the roof or the fire-escapes for their safety and to prevent leaks. These old buildings roof's are not constructed to allow frequent walking or gathering. they are made from rubber and the walls are not high enough to prevent someone from accidently falling if he/she leans on them. It is for the landlord and his management to enforce the rules and all city agencies to oversee that is done.

Anonymous said...

what a frikkin' shame that a person had to die a horrible frightening death before this very much not new quality of life issue gets any attention or acknowledgement from local pols/authorities, it's absolutely disgraceful that it's taken this long ..... seriously the sonic terror of the boom thump boom thump boom from roofs, terraces and apartments every weekend has been going on for years for many many people i pray that something solid and just comes out of this tragedy,

few suggestions

Close all the roofs already (which was usually the norm),

fine the landlords and tenants an amount that is felt punitive fines not something a wealthy person could write off as cost of doing business

Be great if the City Officially recognized that we all have a right to quiet enjoyment of our homes via Public Service Ads about being a good neighbor and guest in a neighborhood.


Molly said...

So sad to see a young person lose their life. In the 70s and 80s I did lots of dumb things including rooftop parties and cook outs in abandoned buildings. I am very sad for her family. It sounds like she may have been an adventurous and amazing person who just miscalculated. RIP

Anonymous said...

The police in the East village do nothing about quality of life . Literally nothing! They should be breaking up these parties like they used to. Do they even get out of cars anymore !? They seem to sit in cars in cell phone scrolling all day!

I have called 311 many times about noise going on for months at a time .

Another major issue is junkies setting up camp and sleeping on sidewalk for months at a time. I have called 311/ Local police dept/ local representatives and nothing is done . They are shooting up
Right across from a middle school every day!!

Anonymous said...

I hope the family sues the landlord deeply, and others who were involved. Then, you will start to see some motivation and responsibility from neighboring landlords.

Anonymous said...

Like a previous poster, I am worried about fires. Our old tenement is made of combustible materials and we don’t have sprinklers. And these people are up on the roof drinking and smoking and dropping their burning cigs on the roof or flicking them over the edge. They also have candles up there.

Beacon, NY said...

I'm happy that I'm trading places with these Beckys and Chads afflicted with the BTS (Bridge & Tunnel Syndrome) on the weekends. Many of them come down to NYC from the Hudson River Valley on a Fri or Sat night for a fix of unhinged hedonism that could unfortunately turn into a tragedy such as this, while I'm heading up to their hometowns for an intellectual experience.

I get a label too as their parents could call me a city slicker (an urban person in the countryside too sophisticated for its honest folk) sort of a derogatory term like the bridge and tunnel term.

Anonymous said...

So sad this loss of a young life.

Why does tragedy have to happen for enforcement to be reviewed?
But better late than yet more tragedies, which seem foretold.

Fully agree with commentator @May 23, 2021 at 2:59 AM.
We need proper and swift enforcement of noise code. Especially the elderly and working class neighbors do not have the luxury to escape upstate for the weekend. Defend our community.

anonymous said...

I live on 12th btw A &B, yesterday afternoon there was a party with a band on the roof of a building that boarders the community garden!! Countless nights of rooftop and backyard parties!! Woo hooing all nigh! Drunken 20 year olds pissing and puking all over the place!! Please someone book me a flight back to 1985!! At least people were a bit more respectful back then!

Anonymous said...

Your talking about Tompkins middle school ? Yea I see them there all the time it’s such a shame

Anonymous said...

Partying destroyed the grass in the park and now the incessant partying is going to kill everyone’s rooftop access.

I think it’ll calm down in a week or so as NYU filters out.

RIP

I hope people really consider how valuable that 3am party is to your life.

Anonymous said...

And all De Blasio wants to do is fund more cops to stand around Times Sq.

Anonymous said...

The tenants who threw the party must be held accountable and set an example out of them . That will hopefully put an end to the clown amateurs who think the only thing to life is getting hammered and having zero regard for their neighbors.

Anonymous said...

Fully agree with commentator May 23, 2021 at 3:43 AM.

Proper enforcement long overdue. Just beware of owners who just pretend action by putting out a letter for so that they can deny liability for accidents, while their brokers market rooftop parties.

If bars operate with loud noise, it makes others feel entitled to organize boisterous rooftop events. And vice versa.

Ever since the season got warmer, it has been a stressful time. We need to win back respect for one another, the cohesion of the community, and sustained support from out public agencies.

Anonymous said...

We have the similar problem of backyard parties coming from 725 East 9th street. There is no agency willing to take action despite numerous complaints every weekend. The landlord built a concrete party bunker behind his 200 100+ unit, post collegiate dormitory which amplifies the sound and disrupts every apartment on 9th and 10th street that face the backyards. Every weekend its a combination of Woooooo!, noise, music, high intensity lights and smoke from fire pits. No agency will take this on and shut down the parties.

Anonymous said...

I live in the East Village. At one of these overcrowded rooftop parties, I watched the drunken men urinating over the edge of the roof onto the ground-floor terrace. Guests were also climbing, drinks in hand, all over the caboose that houses the staircase to the roof - having a grand ole time.....

Jansci said...

This is tragic but is the product now a days that anything goes as long as you are having fun.
What about the over the top party atmosphere promoted by bars pumping music into the streets and allowing drunken disorderly behavior, attracting cars with amplified sound systems and all kinds of screaming and carrying on. This is the current atmosphere especially on Avenu A from Houston to 14th Street.

Karen Tighe said...

The school on 6th between between Ave B/C . A small junkie encampment has started .. they are shooting up every morning as kids are lining up to go back to school ... police do not care ... say they cannot do anything

Anonymous said...

The New York Times has long abandoned coverage of NYC news - but if people are able, it could not hurt to go to the "reader" section (website) and suggest they do a story.

Sarah said...

Let the kids' parents sue for wrongful death and suddenly you'll see some better enforcement on the roofs.

Kids: drunken parkour is never a good idea.

Anonymous said...

@1:45pm: Too bad there's no way to contact the INSURER who insures a given building, b/c I guarantee you THAT entity will care very much about party roofs and drunken, overcrowded parties. If the landlord were threatened with insurance coverage being cancelled or else having the cost quintupled, you'd see action.

Also, someone who had firm, clear video evidence of these goings-on could try contacting the bank or other mortgage-holder (on properties that have a mortgage; you can look that up on ACRIS). I'm not a lawyer, but I'd think a bank president would be interested in PROOF that the owner is allowing these behaviors.

Anonymous said...

Remember this article people! A new NYPD directive forbids cops from entering a residence in response to a noise complaint — unless they’re given permission.

This means loud partiers can simply tell the cops who come to their door to just go away.

A week after it was issued, the directive had already outraged brass and rank-and-file cops alike, who warned Wednesday that neighborhoods will suffer from sleepless nights and trash, and that the NYPD will lose the vital ability to police out-of-control parties by known or suspected gang members.

The city has handcuffed our police from doing any enforcement. I have lived in the east village for years and it seems like the quality of life is going back down the gutter. I am sick of my fellow residents putting all the blame on the police and not people that represent our neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

I saw the NYPD at that building last night ushering out partygoers.

Anonymous said...

Forwarded a logging of multiple 311 SR numbers to CB3 asking what does it take to get someo to do something about the hellishly loud parties clearly disturbing the entire neighborhood ?


here is a one month period for residential noise complaints
for 202 ave A:
https://imgur.com/a/gKAm4J4

Everybody showed up to press conference this morning very upset.
Sen Hoylman, Assemblyman Epstein, Councilwoman Rivera, CB3 Susan Stetzer.






Anonymous said...

This happened in my building several years ago... but it wasnt a roof party and still a mystery to this day (Grieve posted about it). Anyway Building did put in alarm and i think that has curbed some issues.

Anonymous said...

The bros who throw parties next to me, pump techno all night, and like to throw things into our court yard and watch them go boom, then woo. Just to note, NYU had its 'virtual' graduation last week so that was probably a big reason for these parties. I dont know how to make them stop but I also dont think residents should lose access to the roofs either...

LPIFLY said...

Earth school?

Anonymous said...

Sue the landlord for every last penny- the building, everything. It is very likely there is a paper trail of complaints about this party, so the landlord was well aware of the situation. They are responsible for this death, and a jury will not take kindly to that. Losing money and your building is the only thing that will stop these parties, and the landlords who profiteer off them.

Anonymous said...

It’s just sad. I heard that there was a hot tub and a few ping pong tables on the roof that the young woman fell from, sad. But that said, I did many dumb things in my 20’s. I climbed a terrace in Venice to gain access to the room which I’d lost the key to one time. It’s just sad and landlords need to create a safe environment.

Anonymous said...

There's a lot of red tape involved in trying to get anything done. Kudos to the people who tried to prevent this tragedy from occurring.

anonymous said...

Sadly I doubt that will do any good!! All of these landlords have numerous LLC companies! They shuffle $$ and responsibility around from one to another!!

Karen Tighe said...

Yes

Anonymous said...

You know what's going to happen about the rooftop party situation? NADA, that's what!

The elected officials have now made all the right noises, and that'll be the end of that. I'd bet good money that no further action will be taken.

This coming weekend is Memorial Day & of course that will be a 3-day run of woo-woo partying that knows no bounds. (Leaving aside those who have the connections to go woo-wooing in the Hamptons.)

Anonymous said...

Daily News:
Rivera: "said she’s working on bills that would require tenants to sign a document saying they understand the city’s noise codes, and to give city agencies better access to emergency contacts for buildings, while requiring tighter oversight of rooftops."

There you go ladies and gentlemen, problem solved.

Anonymous said...

Re: 7:35 "Sue the landlord"
Exactly what has the landlord to do with non-tenants illegally climbing from one rooftop of a building to another?

Anonymous said...

the storefront at 202 ave A was previously occupied by an artist studio for two decades. Bad karma real estate. no heart. no sense. no style. only money. and problems for everyone.

Anonymous said...

Sadly there are more comments posted here than the number of people who showed up in front of the building Sunday morning. What does that say about how serious all these concerned comments really are?

anonymous said...

The tenants who hosted this party are just culpable!! Sadly I doubt anyone is going to be held accountable and young life is gone due to negligence and drunken stupidity.

Anonymous said...

@11:40 yes indeed, I was at the sun morning press conference.
@12:40 a young man also in attendance leaning against the plywood wall had a traumatized look on his face. I sussed him out for party host/resident. maybe, maybe not.
btw, a member of the press there addressing municipal leaders asked if they thought Covid had a role in the out of control private roof parties.
There was a quick "no" response.
Certainly an enduring & ongoing problem,
nonetheless it has been highlighted in Real Deal and other real estate journals how NYC properties with a private outdoor space have become more desirable during pandemic.
Incentivized industry driven selling point exacerbates problems with this (problem) amenity.

Life long East Villager said...

The 2 proposed laws will not effective.
Write a law that allows the NYPD to vacate a roof gathering after 10pm, upon it receiving a noise complaint, and also give them the ability to issue tickets with monetary penalties.
This will actually work in minimizing the problem.

Giovanni said...

In spite of what the media has been reporting, there have been dozens of recent complaints to 311 about loud music and partying about this very building. According to ABC 7, ”The Department of Buildings said it was not requested to investigate the fatal fall and has not received any 311 calls related to illegal occupancy of the rooftop.” Technically, that may be true, since the DOB is clueless about most building violations, but the police have responded here dozens of times. A simple 311 complaint lookup finds over 60 (sixty!) reports about loud noise and partying at 202 Avenue A in the past 4 months, the latest on May 15th:

202 AVENUE A, MANHATTAN (NEW YORK), NY, 10009
5/15/2021 7:41 PM.
SR Number 311-06271730
Problem: Noise - Residential
Loud Music/Party
The Police Department responded to the complaint and took action to fix the condition.

Many of the complaints also have this note: “The Police Department responded to the complaint but officers were unable to gain entry into the premises.“. Either way it does not seem to make any difference whether the police gain entry or not. The rooftop parties still go on.

Anonymous said...

@10:45am: Rivera says she's "working on a bill" ... let's just say I'm not holding my breath on THAT, b/c she could just "work" on it forever. Let us know when you HAVE a bill and have put it forward to be VOTED on, Carlina.

Further, IMO, as described, that "bill" is a whole lot of nothing.

And if there ever is such a bill, why would I or any other sane person think that the tenants would abide by it? It's just another piece of paper. Unless there are teeth in a law - arrest, fines, eviction, etc. - I don't think a law, in and of itself, will make ANY difference whatsoever.

Maybe our "nightlife mayor" Ariel whats-her-name, should be REQUIRED to show up IN PERSON at every address at which there is such a complaint within 20 minutes of when the complaint is called in to 311. She might even earn her salary that way. Maybe we can have a law that says she is, by definition, an "invited guest" to any & all such events.

Anonymous said...

I've watched this neighborhood change throughout the decades. All of these buildings are approximately the same height. All buildings have roofs. The change is in the people who move in -- or come to visit. The fault lies, unfortunately, with those who made the poor decision to disrespect their neighbors and the building itself. Landlords cannot stop people from making poor decisions.

Anonymous said...

My landlord has told the newer residents of our building that the roof is off limits. The super has kicked them off the roof. But they don't listen. They still go up there and party. One girl even goes up there and drinks wine with her mom when she comes in from the burbs to visit. These people have no respect for their neighbors. How can you hold the landlords responsible? How about banning all rooftop parties and arresting the tenants who throw them and the idiots who attend them?

Beacon, NY said...

@ 4:49 Correct, safeguarding the rooftops so people don't risk getting injured or dying from an accident is a good thing but it doesn't prevent bad behavior.

Anonymous said...

@ 4:49 PM

10:45 AM replying here:
Sorry that you misunderstood me. felt the sarcasm was so thick that I really didn't need a /s tag

Anonymous said...

Yes, landlords are very much responsible. They set up roofs with decks and other amenities, and charge a premium, so it's no surprise when people use them. It is simple to stop this problem- ban tenants from the roof, and install a camera and a fire alarm on the door. That's what my landlord did, and it keeps everyone off.

Rivera's proposals are of course ridiculous, and will have no effect. Only something that strongly penalizes landlords and hosts will work.

LPIFLY said...

So thanks for the updates. I'm sure this is so hard for her family. Based on the quote by her father it seems a lawsuit will be coming. That said the video of the roof from the daily mail makes it pretty clear the roof there posted signage and had dish walls.

Anonymous said...

The rooftop on our tenement has no deck, no amenities whatsoever and the new residents still party up there. There is a sign on the door telling them not to use the roof, the landlord has told them not to use the roof and they still invite their friends over on Saturday nights and head up to the roof.

Anonymous said...

So many people in the comments acting like the EV hasn't been the center of youth culture for the last 50 years, as if 20 somethings drinking on rooftops is the bane of their existence so much so that they wish the punks, crime, and drug addicts of the late 20th century were back. Sure the frat bros suck, but that's just the natural growth of a city entirely driven by money.

Bottom line is the only reason rooftop parties went from small gatherings to center of nightlife is because of the curfew on bars. None of these kids want to deal with the logistics of setting up a party, but they also want to live their lives after a year of quarantine and there's quite literally no alternative when all establishments are closed 4 hours early. I guess it takes tragedy for the city to realize that, wild to think the people in charge can't figure out the root cause.

Anonymous said...

I thought the marshalls were very effect in breaking up covid parties, and should now be assigned to breaking up rooftop parties. (NYPD will be violent or ineffective, and I would not recommend them for this task.) But first -- no compromising -- make roof access -- or, at least, large gatherings -- illegal. (Sorry, developers.)

Anonymous said...

This will Do absolutely nothing I agree .. ... these kids do even recycle which is so easy ! ... they could not care less about anyone or anything

Anonymous said...

I agree 100%! The NYPD needs to be involved ! Also have lived on B for 25 years ... god awful w parties and junkies! Not sure which is worse ...

Anonymous said...

@9:44m: I've lived in the East Village for almost 50 years, and YOU don't seem to understand the difference between a couple of young people drinking on the roof (which I've seen plenty of) versus LANDLORDS deliberately creating & advertising that their building has a "PARTY ROOF". As you can see from the photos of the building where this happened, the party roof is fully outfitted with an outdoor kitchen including a grill and sink.

The signs on the roof saying "Keep 10 feet away" are ridiculous, b/c they're posted directly on the wall behind where the seating is on the roof. If you put up those signs, and you also put seating right there, IMO you've created a big legal issue for yourself as a landlord. The signs are not going to be much of a defense when it's clear the landlord either placed or allowed all that furniture along the perimeter of the roof.

Life long East Villager said...

@AnonymousMay 25, 2021 at 10:14 AM

"NYPD will be violent or ineffective, and I would not recommend them for this task"
Don't be be caught up with the current political hysteria and paint all of the NYPD with the same brush. There are many good and dedicated people on the NYPD. They're charged with protecting everyone and now have got an even tougher job in the current political environment.

Anonymous said...

The City agencies do nothing to enforce the laws. It is as if NYC has laid down in the street to accommodate REBNY and allows developers to what they will to attract flush young newbies. We have filed countless complaints about kids accessing the roof of 605 E 9th St. DOB says the building is secure even though we present them with photographs showing that it is obviously not.

Anonymous said...

This abhorrent failure of governance is a true scandal! How can it be that multiple complaints were filed by neighbors in the many instances of noise disturbances but nothing happens?

Giovanni (above) reported 60 complaints to 311 on just one building. No wonder that many gave up on calling 311. Real number of complaints would be even higher than the are. If a citizen takes the step to file a complain, then it ought to be properly resolved. There should be no excuses such as 'could not enter the building' or 'did not witness anything' when they came the following day after that party ended.

If the city grants permission to construction of allow unenclosed spaces, then it needs to have a viable plan how to address disturbances originating from these. Wow, reading that those apartments fetched $12,000 per month, this is a a strong incentives for owners to look the other way & claim they wouldn't know.

While new buildings can structurally accommodate a large number of people, this is not necessarily the case with old buildings, where any increased usage can trigger cracks and leaks to those below.

Where respect for the health and well-being of neighbors is absent, enforcement is needed.

Is Carlina Rivera's legislative action just a toothless window dressing before elections or can it bring back peace to our neighborhood?

Anonymous said...

@7:32pm: You'll have to forgive me if I view pretty much any action on Rivera's part, during an election year, with a jaundiced eye.

She's not known for being responsive, or pro-active, or even for keeping her word (as in: what she promised she'd vote for & against PRIOR to her getting elected, compared to the actual votes she did cast AFTER she was elected).

Her proposed legislation is supposed to make her look like she's doing something bold & effective. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Doing something really, truly effective about this situation would require the will & coordination of multiple levels of city government, AND it would require NYC gov't to stand up to developers (which will never happen). We know de Blasio isn't going to do anything about this, full stop.

Anonymous said...

Sharp analysis by @9:12 PM.
We shall watch whether we do get in the weeks until the vote some real enforcement and appropriate legislation. -- Sad that it takes a fatal tragedy to spark action. Now enough of this noise. Let's get back respect for our community.

Anonymous said...

How about some strong, reliably tamper proof LOCKS?

Anonymous said...

@4:35am: Do you realize that roof access is an FDNY requirement? If a building is on fire, it is imperative that anyone inside be able to access the roof (and thus the fire escape). It is also imperative that the FDNY have access to fight the fire (though they can bash down the door, of course, but that costs them valuable time in an emergency).

That is why many roof doors have an ALARM that sounds if you push the roof door open: so emergency access is maintained, while still alerting others that someone IS on the roof. These days, the alarm on a roof door OUGHT to be set up so that "the roof door was opened" info is sent immediately to the managing agent or landlord's cell phone or whatever. And then there should be a RESPONSE on the part of the managing agent or landlord. If any alarm is ignored, it's the same as not having an alarm in the first place.

And disabling a roof door alarm is, I believe, a serious offense.

I hope this answers your question.

Scuba Diva said...

@Anonymous at 6:33 PM:

RE: These days, the alarm on a roof door OUGHT to be set up so that "the roof door was opened" info is sent immediately to the managing agent or landlord's cell phone or whatever. And then there should be a RESPONSE on the part of the managing agent or landlord. If any alarm is ignored, it's the same as not having an alarm in the first place.

That's a nice thought. In my building, the LL issues a stern warning—that most people ignore—that there is no roof access and anyone violating this will have their lease terminated. In addition, roof access is not restricted in any way, even by an alarm on the roof door—because that would cost the LL money everytime a worker had to be dispatched to disarm the alarm.

As a result, I—a sixth-floor resident—regularly meet people coming down off the roof from sunning themselves; a tenant apologetically told me in a "don't be mad" tone that she "had" to use the roof during quarantine.

I know a few management companies ago, there was a tenant with a key who was able to turn the alarm off; this was apparently so regularly violated that I'm not surprised it isn't in effect now. The current system isn't working, though.