Chicago, IL
I am overwhelmed with the smell of cigarettes every time I get off the elevator on my floor and the smell is even more prominent in areas of my unit. I understand that these are condos and we are allowed to do what we want in our space but when your habits take over others space it can be uncomfortable. I think there should be a stronger campaign to move smoking outside the building for the health of yourself and those around you. A reminder to residents about this would be nice and hopefully encourage a healthier environment for all.
Comments
I suspect that the smokers' units has faulty seals around the doors, and sometimes there's gaps that smoke travels through between units. Perhaps as a first measure, the smoker could be approached with an offer to improve the seal around their door for free/low cost.
Also, I'm pretty sure some of them put out their cigarettes *right* before they walk out the door. If we can encourage them to wait a little while before walking out, that would help a lot with the hallway smell, too.
That said--I would appreciate if we adopted a smoke-free ordinance eventually with a grandfather clause for existing condo owners who smoke. It's tricky since we're a condo building and not all-rental, but at least it'd be a step in the right direction.
And I would REALLY appreciate if smoking was not allowed on the balconies, too. I'd rather allow smoking in units than on balconies. We've had to close our door during nice weather just because someone near us is chain smoking cigarettes, which is a real bummer.
We take action against cat owners who let the pungent cat pee smell leave their apartment--why not with smokers?
While I agreed with prohibition of smoking in enclosed public places, like lobby, elevators, or hallway as a non-smoker and an owner. I am complete against the idea of prohibiting owners to stop smoking in their own apartments or balconies.
I do have friends that sometime smoke cigarettes or cigars, on the balcony during summer which is one of the reason why I bought a unit in this place because of the balconies, telling owners not to smoke in their apartments or balconies seems to controlling and demanding and I am complete against this.
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Marina City Forum
Promote being considerate of your neighbor
Chicago, IL
Description:
I am overwhelmed with the smell of cigarettes every time I get off the elevator on my floor and the smell is even more prominent in areas of my unit. I understand that these are condos and we are allowed to do what we want in our space but when your habits take over others space it can be uncomfortable. I think there should be a stronger campaign to move smoking outside the building for the health of yourself and those around you. A reminder to residents about this would be nice and hopefully encourage a healthier environment for all.
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Ashley, I was so happy to see this post. I agree entirely! I find it mind blowing that the building has not adopted a no smoking policy. I hope that other residents will come forward to support this idea.
I'd like to point out the following, which is from the City of Chicago's website, and is an excerpt of the city's clean air ordinance:
Chicago has had its own Clean Indoor Air Ordinance since 1988, and this law has been strengthened over the years to better protect the health of all Chicagoans, as well as visitors to our city.
The current and strongest version of the ordinance took effect in 2008 and prohibits smoking in virtually all enclosed public places and enclosed places of employment, including but not necessarily limited to bars, restaurants, shopping malls, recreational facilities (including enclosed sports arenas, stadiums, swimming pools, ice and roller rinks, arcades and bowling alleys), concert halls, auditoriums, convention facilities, government buildings and vehicles, public transportation facilities, coin laundries, meeting rooms, private clubs, public restrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways and other common-use areas in public buildings, apartment buildings and condominium buildings;
The ordinance also prohibits smoking within 15 feet of the entrance of these establishments.
The ordinance exempts private residences (except residences that are used as day care facilities or any other business to which the public is invited), some hotel and motel sleeping rooms, and retail tobacco stores.
Additionally, the law reminds owners and managers of buildings and other spaces not covered by the ordinance that they may declare their buildings and other spaces to be smoke-free; and it encourages them to do so.
The ordinance is enforced by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.
I suspect that the smokers' units has faulty seals around the doors, and sometimes there's gaps that smoke travels through between units. Perhaps as a first measure, the smoker could be approached with an offer to improve the seal around their door for free/low cost.
Also, I'm pretty sure some of them put out their cigarettes *right* before they walk out the door. If we can encourage them to wait a little while before walking out, that would help a lot with the hallway smell, too.
That said--I would appreciate if we adopted a smoke-free ordinance eventually with a grandfather clause for existing condo owners who smoke. It's tricky since we're a condo building and not all-rental, but at least it'd be a step in the right direction.
And I would REALLY appreciate if smoking was not allowed on the balconies, too. I'd rather allow smoking in units than on balconies. We've had to close our door during nice weather just because someone near us is chain smoking cigarettes, which is a real bummer.
We take action against cat owners who let the pungent cat pee smell leave their apartment--why not with smokers?
While I agreed with prohibition of smoking in enclosed public places, like lobby, elevators, or hallway as a non-smoker and an owner. I am complete against the idea of prohibiting owners to stop smoking in their own apartments or balconies.
I do have friends that sometime smoke cigarettes or cigars, on the balcony during summer which is one of the reason why I bought a unit in this place because of the balconies, telling owners not to smoke in their apartments or balconies seems to controlling and demanding and I am complete against this.
Ashley, I was so happy to see this post. I agree entirely! I find it mind blowing that the building has not adopted a no smoking policy. I hope that other residents will come forward to support this idea.
I'd like to point out the following, which is from the City of Chicago's website, and is an excerpt of the city's clean air ordinance:
Chicago has had its own Clean Indoor Air Ordinance since 1988, and this law has been strengthened over the years to better protect the health of all Chicagoans, as well as visitors to our city.
The current and strongest version of the ordinance took effect in 2008 and prohibits smoking in virtually all enclosed public places and enclosed places of employment, including but not necessarily limited to bars, restaurants, shopping malls, recreational facilities (including enclosed sports arenas, stadiums, swimming pools, ice and roller rinks, arcades and bowling alleys), concert halls, auditoriums, convention facilities, government buildings and vehicles, public transportation facilities, coin laundries, meeting rooms, private clubs, public restrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways and other common-use areas in public buildings, apartment buildings and condominium buildings;
The ordinance also prohibits smoking within 15 feet of the entrance of these establishments.
The ordinance exempts private residences (except residences that are used as day care facilities or any other business to which the public is invited), some hotel and motel sleeping rooms, and retail tobacco stores.
Additionally, the law reminds owners and managers of buildings and other spaces not covered by the ordinance that they may declare their buildings and other spaces to be smoke-free; and it encourages them to do so.
The ordinance is enforced by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection.