Today it s relatively easy and routine to add an additional bedroom to apartments that contain “L” shaped living rooms which are commonly know as “convertible or Jr” one or two bedroom apartments. Historically this type of alteration was difficult for two basic reasons. One, the NYC Zoning Resolution had a term called […]
With increasing energy restrictions and emerging technologies such as LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamps, lighting has become more complicated in the past couple of decades. Once, the options were limited to incandescent lamps for home use, fluorescent tubes for retail applications and sodium chloride for civil engineering application. Where lighting was once an afterthought, […]
As of December 2017, The Department of Buildings has created a Real Time Enforcement Unit to enforce construction codes in occupied multiple dwellings. Two 2017 local laws have taken effect resulting in building ownership responsibility to notify the NYC Building Department prior to commencing construction. The construction sites will be subject to DOB […]
The 2014 Building Code defines Partial Demolition as “The dismantling, razing, or removal of structural members, floors, interior bearing walls, and/or exterior walls or portions thereof, including all operations incidental thereto.” Minor proposed work such as through wall openings and enlargements for air conditioning units that affect the structural, exterior wall of a […]
Many NYC apartment owners take advantage of the opportunity to install clothes washers and dryers if these appliances are approved by their building management In addition to property management approvals, there are also several sections of building code to consider and satisfy. New washing machines should be listed on the Schedule B […]
The 2014 NYC Building Code (sec. 3302.1) defines “Partial Demolition” as: “The dismantling, razing, or removal of structural members, floors, interior bearing walls, and/or exterior walls or portions thereof, including all operations incidental thereto.” The 2014 NYC Building Code requires a Site Safety Plan for construction or demolition for “Major Buildings” that are also […]
Over the years, many Doctors Offices were built in New York City. Although a Doctors Office is a Commercial Use, the New York City Zoning Resolution classified it as a Use Group 4 Community Facility. This designation allows this commercial use in a Residential District where regular commercial uses are not allowed. At times, the […]
One of the most frequent question we receive is regarding the legality of installing air conditioning condensers in residential open space. People see various types of HVAC condensers installed in court yards and rear yards and ask why they are not permitted to do the same. The installation is governed by the NYC […]
As architects we design apartment renovations and also review renovations by other architects on behalf of the Building Management. The following are the guidelines we recommend to other design professionals to make the review process as painless as possible: Guidelines for Submission of Plans for Apartment Renovations New York State licensed architect or engineer […]
1. To legalize an apartment combination you must file a new application at the Building Department. Since 1997 we have been able to file Type 2 applications that do not affect a Certificate of Occupancy, but rather results in a Letter for Completion. 2. The apartments that are being combined must not be on […]