I just got a note on my door that I need to remove my BBQ grill from the patio by Saturday. It didn’t really specify “or else…” but I’m assuming because in my neighborhood people are expected to be… how shall I say this… acquiescent to gastronomical fascism, if you know what I mean. This isn’t just me, the apartment complex changed management and the new management banned all outdoor grills, gas and charcoal.
The way I see it I have four choices:
a) Pool together all the resources I can find to move to another place and declare orally and in writing that I am doing so because of the grill policy. I am easily replaced by people who will put up with anything as long as it doesn’t interfere with their kid’s violin lessons (Cupertino school district and all), but this is almost $1400 rent a month for them and even the couple of weeks the apartment will be vacant while they handle the damage I’ve done to it they will be losing revenue. I don’t think this will have the effect I want, this is a big management company and it’s already headed downhill.
b) Ignore the notice and find out what “or else…” means the hard way. If they touch my grill, call the cops. If they try to evict me, fight it in court.
c) Make it a big racism/cultural tolerance issue, which indirectly it really is. Refuse to remove the grill until cooking anything with curry is banned on all premises as well. Don’t get me wrong, I like curry, but seeing as how I BBQ maybe 5 times a year, curry is the predominant acrid smell of the neighborhood. It offends me ,
d) Fight it the hard way by complying with the notice literally. Move the grill indoors, set up big fans and carbon monoxide detectors and grill indoors. The ceiling is asbestos so that should be fine. I mean, permanently black with soot, but fine. When they try to charge me for the damage inform them that I was simply complying with their notice. Thumbing through the apartment rules it doesn’t really specify anything about “open fires” or any kind of indoor charcoal grills. (my renters insurance does, but that’s a separate issue, since it also doesn’t cover damage done by watercraft :dubious: ).
So, dear Dopers, what do you think I should do? I will consider any suggestion as long as it doesn’t involve completely caving in to the management. I haven’t grilled since independence day so they must’ve gone patio to patio checking for grills (it’s not visible from the outside), which I find just petty and wrong.
I hate the smell of curry. That alone would make me go ballistic on this issue… “I have to smell that crap every freakin’ day, but they can’t handle my grill? Fuck 'em!”
Is it your management company’s rule or the city’s ordinance? In my last apartment, we weren’t allowed grills on our (wooden) porches because they violated fire codes. The fines went to the owner of the building, not the tenant, so the owner was understandably facist in forcing people to get rid of their grills - we ALL got nasty notices, whether we had a grill or not.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if your city or local council banned grills on gentrification grounds.
Find out for sure where this is coming from before you decide how to react.
This is very very likely a fire code issue. If you live in an apartment complex and your grill is on your patio or balcony, chances are you are violating local fire codes. I know you’d be in violation of the relevant NFPA codes, which are what most localities use.
What WhyNot said is probably correct. The local fire marshal probably inspected the property and cited the owner/managment company. I’d call the managment company and ask them why you have to remove the grill before you get upset. They may just be passing on what the fire marshal has ordered.
I came in to say what WhyNot already said. It could be a fire code issue (Although somehow I doubt it, more likely an insurance issue or precaution on the part of the new management.)
Most of the towns I lived in in NJ had fire codes preventing grills on patios, or within 5 feet or so of any building or overhang.
I was pretty surprised when I moved out here and saw a grill on just about every patio. Either there are no such fire codes around here, or not many people actually follow them, or even know about them, and apparently they aren’t enforced.
I don’t see it as “gentrification”, my money is on fire codes or insurance liability.
“Hey, I’ve got an idea on urban renewal. Let’s ban BBQ grills on balconies! That’ll cause property taxes to increase and drive the scum away.”
Or, “Having a fire on a balcony might cause the apartment to catch fire, burning down not only that person’s dwelling, but those of several of his neighbors. This would not only cost us a bunch of money, but it’s liable to kill some people who were just minding their own business eating curry.”
Right now they have a security deposit and my rent every month. If I move out they’re going to have to spend time fighting me for the security deposit, spend money fixing up the apartment (it’s due for a carpet change and such) AND not get any rent for it. I can’t see how that’s not a decrease in revenue.
That’s built into their cost of doing business. Unless an extremely large proportion of your neighbors moves out with you, they won’t even notice.
I agree with the others who think your complex is enforcing a previously ignored fire code.
Denver allows grills on balconies, but only gas, and only with (I think) a five pound bottle. My complex has always enforced that. It’s one of the things they look for when they do inspections.
And I should have mentioned that I lived in an apartment complex that the management allowed grills on the balcony (which was good for me, I cooked out almost every night), but said we weren’t supposed to have “open flames”. I cooked with charcoal and lived there for quite a while, even worked there as a part-time handyman, and they never came down on me.
Recently everyone in our apartment complex got notes reminding us that grills are a fire hazard and forbidden on our patios. I think it mentioned the fire code, and fines of up to $500. It’s not a new rule because it was stated in the lease agreement when I moved in 2 years ago, but evidently it hadn’t been enforced till now. While I’d love to be able to grill, I’d love even more to not be burnt alive, so I’m glad they are enforcing the rule.
This is what you should be incensed about. I would absolutely refuse to pay for any so-called “renter’s insurance” that doesn’t cover when my buddy runs over may laptop with a jetski.
It singles out people with grills on their patio, duh.
Honestly, I don’t have hard data to back it up but this isn’t GQ. The only grills I’ve seen on patios/balconies in our apartment complex belonged to the few white/black/hispanic households. However, that kind of came out wrong. Instead of “indirectly racist” I should’ve clarified that I was referring to the effect not the intent.
It was also an attempt at mocking the blatant racialism of the American media - I’m an underrepresented minority in my apartment complex so I get to play the race card at every opportunity.
It’s another attempt at mocking racialism actually. People often disguise racist remarks by saying things like “Our neighborhood is full of people that < some seemingly innocuous trait that can be attributed to a racial group >”. The underlying trait I was referring to is the acquiescent compliance with simple, meaningful and inoffensive rules that is stereotypically more pronounced in recent immigrants from collectivist cultures.
It is the individualist American stereotype of fighting every rule no matter how small even if it doesn’t affect you on sheer principle that you don’t want any more rules. I am like that as a person, I don’t like rules, and often take things to the extreme as a matter of principle. I’m the party pooper who would yell about first amendment rights at the neighborhood association meeting if there was a hint of censorship in the quarterly community flyer. Or I would be if I didn’t have the good sense not to participate in things like that because I know I can’t win.
