Printer Friendly Format Email a Friend


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 187-04
July 12, 2004

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION EXTENDING MORATORIUM ON AWNING VIOLATIONS

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Law

"The next bill before me today is Introductory Number 272-A, sponsored by Council Members Monserrate, Weprin, Gennaro, Martinez, Barron, Fidler, Recchia, Jackson, Comrie, Addabbo, Clarke, Dilan, Koppell, Liu, Nelson, Quinn, Reed, Lopez, Sanders, Stewart, Perkins and Gonzalez. This bill re-establishes a moratorium on the imposition of penalties for certain violations of the City's Zoning Resolution or Building Code as they relate to storefront awnings.

"Intro 272-A is an extension of Local Law 44 of 2003, which established an initial six-month moratorium on the imposition of penalties for awnings that were in violation of either the City's Zoning Resolution or Building Code.  In addition to providing small businesses financial relief from potentially large penalties, this moratorium gave the City an opportunity to educate merchants on the existing rules governing copy and content of storefront awnings and to consider possible amendments to these rules.  The bill before me today re-establishes this moratorium by extending it from January 14, 2004 to November 30, 2005.  During this period the Department of Buildings will conduct a public education campaign. 

"Over the course of the next year, the Department of City Planning and the Department of Buildings, in consultation with other City agencies and affected members of the public, will continue reviewing the existing awnings regulations and codes to determine what changes, if any, may be appropriate.

"I would like to thank Council Member Monserrate for his leadership on this legislation, as well as Director of City Planning, Amanda Burden, Commissioner of Buildings, Patricia Lancaster, and all the agency staff for their hard work."







MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler / Jordan Barowitz   (212) 788-2958




More Resources
Watch the press conference in 56k or 300k