S.W.I.M. Coalition

Green Roof Tax Abatement Legislation: Posted on behalf of Marni Horwitz

Many homeowners, developers and institutions are deeply interested in green roofs and in helping the environment, but the costs are prohibitive. However, together we can make green roofs something that’s affordable for everyone and an industry that invigorates our local economy. An important step towards this goal is to support Green Roof Tax Abatement Legislation. We need to act now, before the Legislature in Albany ends the 2008 session later this month or we will not have another chance until next year!

We need to raise interest and raise support for the tax abatement by approaching developers and businesses (landscape designers, architects, green roof installers, contractors, etc.) and reaching out to organizations such as the Environmental Defense and League of Conservation Voters. We need to make sure that this legislation is lobbied properly, from diverse and influential organizations and businesses.

Thank you in advance for your help and hard work!

DeepRoot is delighted to invite you to a lunch time presentation by Jim Urban on DeepRoot’s Silva Cell system. This is an exciting urban street tree planting system that has great potential to improve our environment. Jim Urban has 30+ years of experience of planting, maintaining, and advocating for trees in difficult urban environments, and recently received the ASLA’s Medial of Excellence for this work. I suggest you bring your toughest technical questions regarding urban forestry, whether considering the Silva Cell planting system or not. I have attached Jim’s Bio for your information.

The presentation will be on Monday, June 2 at 12:30 at EDAW’s midtown studio at 104 West 27^th Street, 4^th floor.   Food and beverages will be provided.  We will be having a 45 minute lunch time PowerPoint presentation followed by a brief question and answer session.  If you can attend, please RSVP to Katti Yamashita at EDAW.  Katti can be reached at: 646-871-8433 or katti.yamashita@edaw.com

Click here for more information on this system

 MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Interagency BMP Task Force outreach meeting
When: June 19, 6pm – 8pm
Where: Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building
             Art Gallery, 2nd Floor
            163 West 125th Street, just east of Adam Clayton

             Powell, Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue)
RSVP: www.nyc.gov/planyc/rsvp
The RSVP form will close at 5PM on Wednesday, June 18, 2008.
You may RSVP by phone ONLY if you do not have internet access:
212-788-1495.

On April 22, 2007, Mayor Bloomberg unveiled PlaNYC, a detailed roadmap for how to overcome the enormous challenges we will face as our population grows, our infrastructure ages, and our environment continues to be at risk between now and 2030. The sixth initiative under PlaNYC’s Water Quality goal calls for the formation of an Interagency Best Management Practices (BMP) Task Force. Formed in May 2007, the Task Force brings together all relevant City agencies to analyze ways to incorporate source control stormwater management techniques, known as BMPs, into the design and construction of both public and private projects to reduce CSO volume. The Task Force is required to produce a plan to integrate the most successful BMPs on a city-wide scale by October 2008. Click here to read the Water Quality chapter of PlaNYC to learn more. 

The meeting will focus on the geographical analysis component of the work of the Interagency BMP Task Force. The meeting will include an update on the BMP Task Force, a presentation of some geographical considerations involved in analyzing BMPs in New York City, and a brainstorming session to invite discussion and feedback on the topic.

As required by the Administrative Order on Consent between the NYCDEP and NYSDEC, the NYCDEP held a public meeting previewing the Alley Creek and Little Neck Bay Waterbody/Watershed Facility Plan on Wednesday, May 21, 2008. Attached below are notes on the meeting provded by the Bronx River Alliance:

Alley Creek and Little Neck Bay Waterbody meeting notes

This meeting marked the begining of a 30-day public comment period which closes on 6/20/08. Comments may be directed to Sue McCormick, P.E., DEC fax (518) 402-9029, sdmccorm@gw.dec.state.ny.us; or Martha Holstein, fax (718) 625-1032, mholstein@urbansol.com