S.W.I.M. Coalition

This presentation by Bart Chezar features an innovative approach for using a remote drain controlled rainwater collection cistern to reduce stormwater from a residential building near the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn.

http://swimmablenyc.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/rdcc-presentation.pdf

The City of New York recently released the final rules and an application for applying for the $4.50/s.f. green roof tax abatement.  Over 100 S.W.I.M. members and green roof stakeholders from throughout North America provided their recommendations to the City with respect to the draft rules, suggesting that the City simplify, streamline, and make cost-effective the final rules for the application.

To their credit, the NYC Department of Buildings and Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability addressed key concerns raised in the public comments while finalizing the green roof rules.  The final application is now a much more simple and streamlined process.  To apply, a building owner and certified architect / engineer must take the following steps:

(1)    Submit an application to the Department of Buildings (green roof tax abatement .pdf).

(2)    Submit an application checklist.

(3)    Review the Department of Building’s Frequently Asked Questions document re: the green roof tax abatement.

Note: The above information only was applicable for the 2009 tax year (last year).  However, projects completed after August 5, 2008 are eligible for the tax abatement provided that they meet all other application requirements.  The City is finalizing the 2010 application and checklist and says that there will be minimal changes.

In order to accurately fill out the application form, the rules and legislation for the tax abatement should be reviewed as well.  The rules can be found here and legislation here.

If you have additional questions then you can contact the department of buildings at greenroofandsolar@buildings.nyc.gov.

The state has now posted the application materials for “green infrastructure” stimulus funds online, and extended the application deadline to May 29th (postmark).  See http://www.nysefc.org/home/index.asp?page=688