Forum Archive

I’ve seen many bricked-over windows in various kinds of apartments (brownstones and tenements) throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan. Very often a column of windows one on top of the other in the whole building will be covered. Some buildings even have multiple columns bricked over, with beautiful exterior window frames intact. I always assumed that this was due to building renovations where dividing walls were put up or hallways/stairways added, but as I’ve looked to buy, I see that many of these bricked-over windows are in spots in the apartments where an extra window would be very nice. Why were those windows bricked-over? Could a co-op owner open up those windows (on board approval), or are there landmark or other zoning issues involved?