Posted by Leonard Steinberg on September 14th, 2013

As we approach the anniversary of the catastrophic storm Hurricane Sandy, the DOB has passed a new building and zoning code for buildings exposed to the flood zone……the code requires a building in West Chelsea to be elevated by four feet above street level. Already developers, architects and designers are working to incorporate this restriction into their building designs. It’s not easy: handicapped access code requires a ramp or electronic lift system (most of which are hideously ugly) to be able to enter a building without climbing stairs. Moving forward, every building in West Chelsea will have stairs to access the lobby, adding a new esthetic challenge/element to the architecture. The good news is the buildings department is allowing those extra 4 feet required at the base to be added onto the roof, so this will not affect ceiling heights. I think 4 feet is an intelligent level: I recall walking through the flood waters during the heights of the storm and the levels averaged about 2-4 feet above street level. This new code, while a minor inconvenience in design and planning, should be a helpful selling tool when marketing, and more importantly, a valuable deterrent to storm water damage especially when combined with water-tight basements. My building at 200 Eleventh Avenue was mildly affected by the flooding because we do not have a basement, an intelligent choice by the developer Glauco Lolli Ghetti who even 7 years ago was quite familiar with the potential for flooding and elevated all mechanicals (and parking)above ground.