Restaurant Exhaust Pipe

Here's a similar case: http://streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/35844-fairmont-manor-lawsuit

Your situation is why co-ops try to avoid renting to restaurants.

What does your board say? (Remember, it's not us-versus-them: you're "them" too.)

We had a similar story, where the cost of relining 14 stories of masonry boiler flue would've been too much, so we ran a new stainless-steel flue up the side of the building. In our case, though, it was carefully sited so as not to be visible from anybody's windows.

Uhm... is it literally in front of your window that is considered fire egress (ie blocking it)? Egress cannot be blocked. Did your building architect approve the construction?

"Directly in front"? You stand inside, look straight out the window, and there it is, 18" dead ahead? Yecch. Sounds like really bad design/placement on behalf of the co-op architect/board. That said, there may not have been any other place to put it, particularly if the pipe is in the light well of the building, which typically doesn't have lots of extra space.

It's unlikely you'll negotiate lower monthly fees: the income from that lease is probably helping offset a certain amount of potential maintenance increase. Ask yourself: How much additional maintenance would I be willing to pay to not have this pipe here?

I'm completely sympathetic to your point -- out my office window right now I see one egregious example a few blocks away, and when I was looking to buy, there were lots of add-on pipes, smokestacks, and wires stuck on the back sides of buildings, with seemingly little thought for aesthetics and the tenants. At the same time, it's worth finding out what choices the co-op traded off when they made the decision & signed off on the plans.

On the other hand, many NY kitchens don't have windows, so covering up the window and increasing the number of wall cabinets may improve the usability, and market value, of the apartment.

Maybe you can convince the board to paint it black so it does not reflect as much.

Poster did not say in front, but "within arms reach."
Im certain the lease stipulates any exhaust vents cannot block any windows.
But this is the next worst thing, sorry Craquelin.

If having natural light is the primary concern and not viewing the pipe or having it reflect into your kitchen is enough a nuisance, you could consider changing the window to glass block.

might enhance egress. op could climb down the pipe in case of fire.

yikes = funny

what does gothamsborooooo equal?

C0C0, what is new with you? Have you been surviving well up in C0lumbia C0unty? I guess so!

ah, sorry. My reading of that made it even worse.