SECOND-HAND SMOKE PROBLEM
WARNING! If you are concerned by the thought of inhaling second-hand smoke if you so much as even crack your bedroom windows or balcony door open, or are disturbed by the thought of the smell of cigarette smoke coming through your windows and stinking up your own unit, BEWARE!.
As for now, The Grand allows tenants to smoke on the balconies. This is a major problem in this building, in particular, as the bedrooms and living room windows of opposite facing units are only separated by a VERY NARROW, SEMI-ENCLOSED COMMON AREA COURTYARD (only by about 20 feet) in much of the building, which allows the smoke to reach your open windows very quickly. I am constantly having to jump up and close my windows throughout the day, evening and early morning hours as the smoke comes through.
Because of the design of the building, they need to designate NO-SMOKING areas where it can pose a health risk from second-hand smoke and a disturbance of the smell to other tenants. (I had a friend over the other day who noticed the smell and said ""Did I used to smell like that when I smoked?!"" That was with the window open left open one inch.)
It's very depressing to have to keep your windows closed all the time to avoid this. As of now, this is how it is at The Grand on this issue.
There is a new Bill that was passed by the Senate that allows landlords to designate non-smoking areas in an apartment building, or to make a it a non-smoking buildling for both new and existing leases with proper Notice. Most apartment buildings in Sherman Oaks are on board with this. Hopefully, The Grand will take advantage of this beginning January 1, 2012, especially because of the way their building is designed.
I feel it is my duty as a human being to warn people of such health hazards should you enjoy leaving your window open before you sign up for anything.
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