Restaraunt Smell/311 no help

Hello Brownstoners, We have a restaraunt nearby that opened over a year ago.  They have a wood burning cook fire that blows smoke all over the neighborhood.  Sometimes it is so strong in my appartment that it burns my eyes when the windows are closed.  I’ve sent complaints to 311 many times but when they come to investigate (usually days later) the smoke may or may not be present.   Other restaraunts in our area have real diffusor systems for their exhaust.  After lots of complaints the best I could get out of this restaraunt was that they raised their smokestack and directed it away from our building.  I still get the smoke, especially on cloudy days. The owners have said that the diffusor system (that all the others use) costs 15K and is too expensive for them.  This restaraunt has been wildly successful from the day they opened. Does anyone know of any other options besides 311?
Has anyone in this situation successfully sued a business to get them to do the right thing for their neighbors?

Thanks in advance.

stonetree

in Restaurants and Cafes 12 years and 3 months ago

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masterbuilder | 12 years and 3 months ago

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As a restaurant builder who has just happened to eat at Speedy’s once, I recall looking at their wood burning oven in depth – and the steak frying cook area. I took a look today at the required engineering in the DOB system, and it does not appear there was any DEP code requirement.  I built a bar a couple of years ago in Williamsburg – under a multi-unit apartment.  We had a DEP requirement for sound attenuation, and I ended up handling the issue directly with the DEP to meet the code requirement. Keep us posted.  If someone asks me to build their pizza oven, I want to know how to keep the neighbor’s happy.

wilso26941 | 12 years and 3 months ago

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If you’re talking about Speedy Romeo, it looks like they did properly file for a permit.  Here’s the team for the project:   Engineer: James A Gibbons 1 Central Avenue Suite 308 Tarrytown NY 10591 914-524-9740 Jag659@Juno.Com841-4743   Engineer: Anthony K Shitemi 152 Degraw Street Brooklyn NY 11231 646-221-5256 Tshitemi@Uai-Ny.Com   The filing states they proposed installing a commercial kitchen exhaust system which suggests the standard commercial exhaust hood, not something that could handle a wood burning appliance or fireplace.  You could talk to the engineer or architect about what was intended vs. what was actually built and the potentially raising the flue above the roof the way it should have been done in the first place.

stonetree | 12 years and 3 months ago

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Thanks Wilso.

wilso26941 | 12 years and 3 months ago

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Building code states that flues/chimneys must extend 3′ above any neighboring construction within 10′ of the flue, whether on their property or not.  If they got a building permit for the flue, this code rule should have been followed.  If this was followed, it’s a neighbor relations issue and not really a construction issue.

stonetree | 12 years and 3 months ago

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I have reached out to Letitia James (our city council woman) who got back to me right away yesterday.  Also reached out to the Community Board, NY1, Ask Asa and the DEP.  I heard back from the DEP and NY1 also so far.

BobMarvin | 12 years and 3 months ago

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If 311 doesn’t help you might want to contact local elected officials, started with your City Council Member

stonetree | 12 years and 3 months ago

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Yesterday the smoke was so bad it set off the C02 alarm in my apartment.

stonetree | 12 years and 3 months ago

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Unfortunately, yes.

pigthree | 12 years and 3 months ago

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speedy?