Forum
« Decks made wtih aluminum? Rental 2-br apartment needed »
April 9, 2007
Does brownstone history start in 1899
My house was supposedly built in 1899, but I think this is when some agency began keeping records. I suspect that my house was built earlier than this and this date was entered into the records for many houses then.
Does anybody know the background behind city record keeping and where the most accurate source of dating is.
Thanks very much, Brownstoners.
Comments
I don't know why they list "1899" as the building date for these old houses. After we purchased our brownstone, I think I went to the DOB on Joralemon and got the file on my property. Among other things, it contained the original proposal to build 8 homes, the blueprint, and a record of all permits that had been filed on my property through the years. My house and 7 others were all built together as part of the same project. Documents show work was started in March 1891, and the houses were completed in 1892. Each house cost about $5,000 (!) to build at the time. I had heard that you needed to have your deed in hand at the DOB to get your file, so I brought mine, but no one asked to see it. Instead, before handing me the file, the guy behind the counter asked "What's your relationship to the property?" I told him I was the owner and he gave me the file. Just a heads up.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 9, 2007 10:20 AM
there was a fire that destroyed most property records from that era. so if you see the word "estimated" next to the construction date on sites like propertyshark, then it was one of the houses whose records were lost.
Posted by: JL at April 9, 2007 10:42 AM
That's right, the fire destroyed many records, so most 19th century rowhouses and other buildings are listed as built in 1899. They can be off by several decades. My place was built in 1862, a previous house we lived in was 1857, but the property records say 1899. If you can get a hold of other documentation, you should be able to find out the actual construction date.
Posted by: lp at April 9, 2007 11:03 AM
It was my understanding that you do not need the deed to see housing records. These are public documents and no one should be asking you what your relationship to the property is... Am I wrong on this?
Posted by: Anonymous at April 9, 2007 12:29 PM
you're undoubtedly correct, 12:29, but there's no law saying they can't ask. you just probably don't have to answer.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 9, 2007 12:37 PM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.