THE ASSEMBLY Chairman

STATE OF NEW YORK Committee on Codes

ALBANY COMMITTEES
Rules
Ways & Means
Election Law
JOSEPH R. LENTOL
Assemblyman 50th District
Kings County
lentolj@assembly.state.ny.us

July 13, 2017

The Honorable Bill de Blasio

Mayor of New York City
City Hall
New York, NY 10007

Dear Mayor de Blasio:

I am writing you today about a pressing issue that I learned about in the news the banning of
tenant-accessible rooftop terraces on office buildings. I hope you can bring some clarity. Why are
office buildings being targeted? Plenty of residential buildings throughout New York City have
rooftop terraces that tenants can use.

Back when Williamsburg and Greenpoint were rezoned, the Bloomberg Administration largely
forgot about the importance of a live/work community. An abundance of residential buildings
were constructed, but there was a severe lack of office space. Over the past few years, the
Department of City Planning has supported the expansion of office space in my district and now
the Department of Buildings might be taking away one of the most enticing features for office
tenants a rooftop terrace.

In office buildings, as in residential buildings, rooftop terraces provide a place of refuge and
relaxation. These spaces can boost worker efficiency, while also reducing stress. They serve as
another form of open space which is already in short supply in New York City. Additionally,
rooftop terraces provide a boon to the buildings appeal leading to increased occupancy.
Moreover, rooftop terraces can increase office rents, resulting in higher property values and
increased tax revenue. The physical, psychological and financial benefits of rooftop terraces on
tenants are undisputable.

I urge you to protect the use of rooftop terraces for office building tenants. The office buildings
planned for my district and for other parts of New York City are crucial to attracting future
businesses. Brooklyn has been called the Silicon Valley of the east coast, but if what the news is
reporting is true, banning tenant use of rooftop terraces will surely hurt our ability to attract new
businesses to New York City.

Sincerely,

Joseph R. Lentol

632 Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 (518) 455-4477 FAX (518) 455-4599
District Office: 619 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, New York 11211 (718 383-7474 FAX (718) 383-1576