Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2014 - (Page 8)

POLICY & STANDARDS NYC'S GREEN PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE KEY CHANGES AND ONGOING CONSIDERATIONS FOR NEW YORK CITY'S GREEN ROOF TAX ABATEMENT PROGRAM BY: ROB CRAUDERUEFF N ew York City's sewer system was originally designed to combine stormwater runoff with raw sewage. And there was a time (not too long ago) when the City only promoted hard infrastructure such as concrete pipes and water holding tanks to manage combined sewer overflows (CSOs). However, with organizations such as Stormwater Infrastructure Matters (S.W.I.M.) pushing green policy forward in New York City, times have changed. In 2007, the S.W.I.M. coalition organized green roof professionals, policy makers, environmental justice organizations and environmental organizations to develop a shared vision for a Green Roof Tax Abatement program in New York City. Due to this coalition building, as well as significant research, analysis and work with elected officials, the NYC Green Roof Tax Abatement was originally passed in June 2008. Although the value ($4.50/sf) supported by the Bloomberg administration was lower than the value recommended ($6.75/sf), the coalition supported this incentive to gain political traction with the City. CCI GROUP SCIENCE * ENGINEERING * SOLUTIONS Help ing to build a nd PROGRAM REVIEW The 2013 extension and improvement of the New York City Green Roof Tax Abatement resulted from the coalition's follow-up research and partnerships with public agencies. I conducted an independent analysis with land use attorney Caroline Harris on behalf of S.W.I.M., which included interviews and focus groups with green roof contractors. This research articulated administrative and financial barriers that limited participation in the tax abatement program. Administrative barriers included maint ain a lengthy review process (at times requiring more than 100 hours by the contractor). Economic barriers included a need to increase the value of the Green Roof Tax Abatement, and to allow the tax abatement to be amortized over multiple years. KEY CHANGES The law, enacted in December 2013, puts forward the following key changes to the tax abatement program: 1) The duration of the tax abatement has been extended by five years, from 2014 to 2018. www.ccigroupinc.ca Toll Free: 1.888.348.8991 cit y sk y line s since 19 7 2 With all the solutions/ you need 8 make your project a success, CCI GROUP is your Single Source Engineering Firm. READ THIS ISSUE ONLINE AT WWW.LIVINGARCHITECTUREMONITOR.COM LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR SPRING 2014 / to http://www.ccigroupinc.ca http://www.ccigroupinc.ca

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2014

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2014
Contents
From the Founder
On the Roof With...
Policy and Standards
Research
Gap Leadership
Confessions of a Green 'Starchitect'
Sprucing Up
Green Roofs and Walls in Music City
Space in Transition
Big Box Retailers Embracing Green Roofs?
Exploring England's Green Roof and Wall Industry
New GRHC Corporate Members
GRHC Buyers Guide
Professional Calendar
Dirty Thoughts

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2014