Green Roof Tax Abatement
The Javits Center's one-acre rooftop farm, managed by Brooklyn Grange, grows up to 50 crops each season. Photo credit: Dustin Partridge
In recent years, as the need to protect New York City has become ever more imperative in the face of climate change, city planners have begun to design built infrastructure like green roofs to mimic the ecosystem services provided by natural areas. NYC Bird Alliance has been involved in a number of green roof projects, and has been a leader in championing their benefits for urban areas and encouraging increased installations through advocacy and outreach.
Green Roof and Green Infrastructure projects are usually designed with stormwater capture and management as a main priority, but they also provide countless other benefits for people, wildlife, and the environment. Green roofs:
- offer much-needed bird habitat and increase urban biodiversity,
- improve air quality by reducing carbon and other air pollutants such as nitrous oxide, sulfure dioxide, and ozone,
- provide insulation to buildings to help mitigate the heat island effect,
- and serve communities with outdoor space, where people can socialize, garden, play, and relax amidst our dense urban grid.
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Kingsland Wildflowers at Broadway Stages with blooming Tickseed. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
Sampling night flying arthropods to assess bat prey abundance on the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center Green Roof. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
The Green Roof Environmental Literacy Laboratory, the largest NYC public school green roof, sits atop of the New York City public elementary school PS41. Photo: courtesy Green Roof Researchers Alliance
Kingsland Wildflowers at Broadway Stages with blooming Tickseed. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
Sampling night flying arthropods to assess bat prey abundance on the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center Green Roof. Photo: NYC Bird Alliance
The Green Roof Environmental Literacy Laboratory, the largest NYC public school green roof, sits atop of the New York City public elementary school PS41. Photo: courtesy Green Roof Researchers Alliance
NYC Bird Alliance’s Advocacy Efforts to Pass Improved Tax Abatement Program
Green roof tax abatement programs are government initiatives that offer financial incentives to building owners who install green roofs. By implementing these programs, New York City can encourage the adoption of sustainable building practices and improve the quality of life for birds and people in cities.
In 2019, the New York City Council passed Resolution 66, a new and improved green roof tax abatement program that prioritizes vulnerable areas in the city. NYC Bird Alliance played a crucial role in creating and passing this resolution. The updated program provides a one-time property tax abatement for building owners who install green roofs, with a tripled tax break for those in high-priority areas. With Resolution 66, the abatement rate increased from $5.23 to $15 per square foot of green roof space, with a cap of $200,000 or the amount of property taxes due for the building that year. The abatement lasts for one year.
In 2024, NYC Bird Alliance worked to renew that tax abatement to reduce barriers to entry and equitably expand the program across all five boroughs. NYC Bird Alliance helped the renewal of the GRTA pass the NY State Senate and Assembly, and—with the help of outspoken supporters, members, and advocacy volunteers—successfully applied pressure to the Governor to sign the legislation.
The 2024 Green Roof Tax Abatement renewal will:
In 2024, NYC Bird Alliance worked to renew that tax abatement to reduce barriers to entry and equitably expand the program across all five boroughs. NYC Bird Alliance helped the renewal of the GRTA pass the NY State Senate and Assembly, and—with the help of outspoken supporters, members, and advocacy volunteers—successfully applied pressure to the Governor to sign the legislation.
The 2024 Green Roof Tax Abatement renewal will:
- Create urban habitat for wild birds.
- Help New York City adapt to increasing temperatures and more frequent and intense rainfall due to climate change.
- Equitably distribute green roofs across the five boroughs, especially Environmental Justice communities.
