BBQ neighbor driving me crazy!!!

how do you like your burgers?

http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/safety/barbeque.shtml

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/04/nyregion/outlaws-in-greasy-aprons-flouting-propane-code-new-yorkers-grill-outdoors.html?pagewanted=1

Spinmaker1 Thanks for the regulations. Does anyone know the regulations for natural gas (hard piped) grills on terraces? Thanks

NYCDreamer, if I'm reading the Fire Code correctly, I believe the regulations for piped gas are the same as for charcoal-it's allowed, with certain restrictions.
Here is a link to the Code - see section 307.5
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/firecode/july_2008/fire_code_local_law26_final_complete.pdf#page=60

The Code is cited on a related discussion on BrickUnderground:
http://www.brickunderground.com/forum/my_building/everything_else/the_4th_of_july_bar_be_que

I know this sounds like a radical idea, but have you considered approaching him and telling him that when he BBQ's, the smoke flows right into your apartment and stinks the place up? Or, you could approach several other neigbhors on the same side of the bldg as you - chances are you all have the same problem. Jointly, you could write a letter.

Or you could just post on a board full of strangers, none of whom are empowered to impact your situation at all, in the one-in-a-million chance he sees it.

That's what Dwayne is good for, pointing out the obvious to bleeding imbeciles...

Obviously they need to approach the BBQ guy. But before that it would be completely advisable, intelligent and sensible to know the regulations and whether they could throw the book at the guy or not. Then if the guy flips out they know their next best move. Nothing imbecilic about that.

You might also consider any compromise you could propose. There's probably something you can live with sort of telling him to never cook outside. And you must admit,saying you can't open your windows at all anymore is perhaps an exaggeration since, unless he runs a free-food kitchen from his patio, his cooking is surely limited to the hour it takes to cook it (and that's rather generous since a monster 2" thick steak takes no more than 30 minutes to grill).

If he is smoking whole swine out there for 17 hours a weekend, that's different. But a simple grill? I would urge you to explore ways of reaching a mutually acceptable compromise. You only have one home and it is nice when it is a place you feel good being in--part of that is being at peace with one's nieghbors.

"If he is smoking whole swine out there for 17 hours a weekend, that's different."

LOL. Cuban block party?

I've written an anonymous letter to the tenant and asked if they could move the grill towards the back of the patio and told him that the smoke is becoming an issue. He hasn't changed anything.

And for the poster that says it is only 30 minutes of grilling for a steak, that is not the case. the grill gets started an hour before the cooking begins, and then the cooking goes on for a couple of hours.

The tenant is not just cooking a couple of burgers for themselves! They are cooking for groups of people that have been invited over to hang out over the course of an evening.

Again, I dont have issue with the fact that they are using a BBQ, the problem is the odors and smoke.

Think about how you would feel if your apartment windows were 30 feet above a smoking bbq and your apartment smelled like a grill?

I've notified the neighbor and asked for a small accomidation by moving the grill, they ignored my basic request and now I am trying to find out what my other options are.

reread kyle's post above. how do you feel about receiving anonymous letters of complaint?

p.s. i think you will find that people find it more difficult to act like assholes when they are dealing face to face---much simpler when anonymity is involved.

Agree w/ Columbia. Anonymous letter is NOT the way to go! Are you THAT afraid of confrontation that you can't even mention how you are being inconvenienced?? You have done NOTHING WRONG! You have NO reason to feel the need to remain anonymous. How's this:

"Hi, my name is Jeff I live in 4B. I wrote you a polite letter some time ago about your BBQ'ing but it appears you didn't have time to focus on it because my place still smells like a smoke-house 6 days a week. I thought I might have you over for a beer to discuss this."

If he still sayz "talk to tha hand", then you can write him a letter (or better yet, have an attorney friend do so) that says you've tried to approach him reasonably on this and he has ignored it, so you're going to have to explore more formal means of relief. Don't specify what that might be; let him think on it a bit.

You should expect this to be a process that takes several FACE TO FACE convo's to resolve; hiding behind anonymous letters never got anyone anywhere (and, predictably, it hasn't changed your situation a bit!). You should NOT expect this to be a quick resolution -- "I just thought in my mind about how rude he was being - and he stopped!" That seems to be what shy ppl like you want to have happen. It never does. You should rank wishful thinking, anonymous letters and praying he'll stop all in the category of things that make you feel self-righteous without actually changing your situation one bit.

ok...i haven't completely lost touch with reality.

^^ ooooh Dwayne, that's a good phrase I'll have to remember ... "your continued behavior is forcing me to explore more formal means of relief." rofl

A friend used to have a similar patio situation in the E. Village. We never grilled on the patio but frequently had parties where we played music and were up late. One such evening, someone from above doused the entire party with a massive amount of water. Not sure how, or where it came from. We never partied on that patio again.

Now there's an idea, OTNYC...maybe columbia can replace the charcoal in this guys grill with some C-4!

Hey sticky - when I was in about the 3rd grade, and would get straight A's, the dumb kids would tease me for using big words, getting good grades ('cause that wasn't, you know, "cool"). Since college and grad school, i've not seen anyone make fun of a formally-written sentence. In fact, every contract i review is full of them.

I've not seen anyone make fun of formal language UNTIL NOW, that is.

Let me guess - you work with your hands, don't you?

Dear BBQSCREWED,
Thank goodness for changing seasons. Your house might be BBQ central for the rest of your summers. If you neighbor is not in violation of NYC BBQ code you might be spendind you weekend nights with the windows closed and the A/C on. I'll bet moving that grill won't make a damn bit of difference. You did say it's only on the weekends. This is the joy of life on the ground floor. Almost makes chaseing all those mice worth it. I've got my own BBQ guy below me. That's life in the big city.

BadLittleDog said: No pwoblem, I solve. I kill him. Now, enjoy!