Smoking Bans Coming to the Table in NYC Condos & Co-ops

Picture by Bryan Derballa for The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a move is afoot to ban smoking in various condos and coops throughout Manhattan.  Half a dozen have a vote coming up to ban smoking anywhere in the building, and another dozen are considering a vote.  Currently, tenants are not left with too much recourse when a smoker’s personal habit impinges upon the atmosphere of non smokers, where the smell and potential harm of second-hand smoke is palpable.

 

Currently, smoking is already prohibited in the public areas of buildings with 10 apartments or more, and NYC is instituting a ban on smoking in may public areas like parks.  At this time, NYC’s health department says about 16% of city residents declare themselves as smokers. 

 

While 200 East 74th had to back down from a proposed ban do to potential legal/financial backlash, Related Cos, a large rental developer has instituted a no-smoking policy for new tenants, letting the old tenants continue to smoke.  They say in 3 years they expect theoir buildings to be 97% smoke free.