Co-op city residents can face a $125 fire code fine for door decorations
Brown, who has lived in Co-op City for half a century, recalled how the hallways would be filled with festive decorations during the holidays.
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Co-op City residents are expressing frustration after management announced they would be fined for decorating their apartment doors, just as the holiday season approaches.
"People come home from work after having a stressful day, and they want to see something happy," said Julie Brown, a 50-year resident of Co-op City.
Brown, who has lived in Co-op City for half a century, recalled how the hallways would be filled with festive decorations during the holidays.
"To come home to nothing—what do we live in, Scrooge Ville?" she said.
The uproar began after Riverbay Management distributed a notice under residents' doors, informing them of the new restrictions. The notice cited fire codes, stating that no hallway, door, or lobby decorations or personal items would be allowed.
It also indicated that fines would be imposed for violations, starting at $125 after the first warning.
"They're saying that certain materials can cause fires or that decorations might block exits," Brown explained. "But I’ve lived here for over 50 years, and decorations have never been a problem."
She emphasized that the building's infrastructure, particularly the conductors that have been in place since 1968, should be the focus of fire safety concerns, not holiday cheer.
"These are things the community, the Co-op City Board, and Co-op City Management should be focusing on, not Christmas decorations."
Other residents voiced similar frustrations, questioning why the holiday tradition was being banned now.
Brown plans to continue petitioning management and elected officials to allow residents to decorate their doors without the threat of a fine.
