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August 3, 2007
second floor entrance
My wife and I own a typical Brooklyn, narrow three story row house. Lately we've been day dreaming about moving the front door from the parlor level, to the second floor. This would of course also involve building a new external staircase. We've driven around the neighborhood and think we've seen others do this, but can't find any information on costs, or function of doing this. Have you done it? Thought about it? Are those second floor entries zoned differently? This would remain a one family home. Thank you for any help or recommendation of people to talk to.
Comments
I don't think that I have ever seen that. Aren't your bedrooms on the second floor?
Posted by: anonymous at August 3, 2007 7:21 PM
No. The bedrooms are on the third floor.
Posted by: Anonymous at August 3, 2007 7:44 PM
I'm not real clear in what you're saying. Most typical Brownstones have a stoop that goes to the parlor entrance. The parlor entrance is the 2nd floor. The 1st floor is at ground level and is called the garden level. Are you saying you don't have a stoop?
Posted by: anon at August 3, 2007 7:53 PM
Forgive me, currently, the main entrance is on the garden level. We want to add a stoop, or simple staircase, and create a new main entrance on the second floor, where our living room is. There are three full floors above ground.
Posted by: Anonymous at August 3, 2007 8:23 PM
There's a good chance that what you desire was, in fact, the original configuration of the brownstone. When many were turned into apartment houses, the stoop was removed and one entrance on the garden level was used. I can only tell you that it is not uncommon for renovations to re-establish the stoop and front door on the parlor floor. Someone out there must have experience with doing this. Good luck.
Posted by: Anonymous at August 3, 2007 8:42 PM
I've noticed a few missing stoops and the only reason I can think that they were removed is because part of the parlor hall was used as an extra room. Often you will see this in rooming houses. Any mason contractor can do this work for you. It's nice that you want to put the stoop back.
Posted by: Rick at August 4, 2007 7:13 AM
Go get the tax photo from 1940, or the original floor plans from DoB(good luck). Then you will see what the the architect had in mind.
Posted by: tom at August 4, 2007 3:45 PM
You may find another surprise if you complete restoring the Stoop - the Post Office will continue to deliver ONLY to the Garden level door or gate, and refuse to deliver to the Parlor Level if that is what you wish.
The Post Office hase made it clear that each Address has a Single Point of Delivery - and there is NO process to modify or amend the Point of Delivery designation.
I have been fighting and researching this in Park Slope for 3 years now, with no success (in the legal sense). We are getting some mail in the New Mailbox at the Parlor level - but that is 'because of new delivery people' who follow our signs and are unaware of the LAW.
Posted by: Ron at August 4, 2007 4:46 PM
Forget the whole thing in its entirely, because of when you get older and a little wiser. You gonna need to thank jesus when they aint no stairs, and you can sleep or go the bath without them steps you asking for so much. For what its worth, i had the same kinda thinking and let it pass. Spend it on you kids, or someone elses in the meantime.
Posted by: Mom Vidalia at August 4, 2007 7:29 PM
Gosh Ron, Can you really imagine your postal delivery guy running up and down peoples stoops too? It's not realistic. You want them to run up and down eveyones stoop so you doon't have to make the walk yourself once?! Plus you're pissed and thinking about this everyday for three years? Can't you simply get your own mail at the garden level? I think you're making youself nuts over something that's so small.
Posted by: Anon at August 5, 2007 8:16 AM
Amen on that one right above me, life too short to worry about wear the mailman dropping keyspam and other billables.
Posted by: Mom Vidalia at August 5, 2007 7:48 PM
Ron dont be cheap a bottle of cider or wine or maybe a few bucks at Chrisems would loosen up the mailman to make the extra flights up the rest of the year long, otherwise you doing a diservice to that man or womans pride in working for you especially at the Xmas Holidays. Shoe leather cost money, or in your case maybe some wine.
Posted by: Rupes at August 5, 2007 8:18 PM
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