Posted by Abey Baby on August 22, 2001 at 19:10:28:
In Reply to: Buildings Department should Certify Artists?? Get real. posted by Provost on August 22, 2001 at 18:51:30:
: Get real. To expect the Buildings Department to "certify" who is an "artist" and who isn't is ridiculous. Do you think most buildings dept. employees sideline as art critics ?
NO, I just want them to do their job. The NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs is in charge of certifying artists. To learn more about the rigorous certification process, go here:
http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dcla/html/artcert.html
The NYC DOB is in charge of ENFORCING ZONING REGULATIONS. But clearly it is NOT.
: The injustice is that zoning laws and building codes are as complex as they are. The ridiculous level of complexity only impedes the construction of affordable housing and allows certain groups - eg "DOB Certified Artists" to gain housing to the exclusion of others. New York's housing sitution will improve only when the city's ridiculously complex rent laws, zoning laws and housing codes are repealed. And among the first laws to go should be those requiring the DOB to decide who is an 'artist' and who isn't.
The zoning laws for NYC aren't any more complex than they are in Dallas, TX. The problem is that they are not enforced. Artists have an ETHICAL and LEGAL right to be in SOHO but because the DOB doesn't enforce the C of O, they cannot afford to be there.
DON'T confuse "loft law" with zoning regulations. Loft Law is very weird and has absolutely nothing to do with what I'm talking about. ZONING is simple in NYC... just not enforced.
Follow Ups:
Note: Posting is disabled in all archives
Post a Followup