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October 2, 2009
Sketchy Wall
I recently moved in a townhouse. There is a duplex that is currently empty and being renovated on the garden level and 1st floor. I'm on the top floor. I'm questioning the wall that the landlords erected to make my apartment separate from the rest of the building. It's pretty much just wood screwed and nailed into the bannister, and it doesn't even go all the way up to the ceiling? I'm concerned about the safety of it, along with the privacy. Does anyone know how I would go about finding out if this is even legit with the building code?
Comments
You can contact the DOB and by supplying the building address, I believe you can see what type of dwelling your building is registered as, ie. whether it's a legitimate multi-family townhuose and for how many units.
From your description, it sounds sketchy. But you should have investigated before moving in to assuage your safety concerns.
Posted by: Bsquared at October 2, 2009 3:12 PM
If it truly is a two-family, which it should be to be configured how you describe, the wall should be a fire rated assembly, which something screwed to the railing definitely is not.
Short answer: non-compliant.
Posted by: JimHill at October 2, 2009 4:16 PM
Uh, perhaps you might want to talk to your landlord first? If s/he is renovating downstairs (perhaps for his or her use) the renovation may not be complete.
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at October 3, 2009 12:34 AM
There are many original and legal two families in Brooklyn that have no separation between the apartments whatsoever. Not even a door. The whole floor is the apartment.
Posted by: mopar at October 3, 2009 10:21 AM
Might be a stretch, but could it be a temporary "keeping the construction dust and crap out of your apartment" kinda wall- the equivalent of taping up plastic sheeting??
Otherwise sounds fairly ridiculous, in a "Uh, yeah, it's a two-family. Sure it is." sort of way.
Posted by: bfarwell at October 3, 2009 5:52 PM
Is this place on waverly avenue? I lived in an apt remarkably similar to that arrangement. The wall gave no privacy, it was not a two family nor was it a legal wall, but the rent was great... I would just factor in the low rent to offset the lack of privacy
Posted by: B3 at October 5, 2009 10:58 AM
I checked the nyc.gov website and it is a 2 family townhouse. I know the owner grew up in the place and her cousin gre up in what is now my apartment, which is why I'm sure there was so wall put up sooner.
Posted by: aja at October 6, 2009 5:23 PM
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