Forum: Building Code
October 23, 2009
20-y.o. HPD Violations
A few days ago my 3 family co-op (a townhouse in an historic district) got a fat envelope of 20 year old HPD violations. Almost all of them were to be remedied by two days after the envelope was postmarked. Only one violation, citing a somewhat faulty fire escape, is legitimate. Others are absurd: It seems that we can have a lock on neither the backyard door's iron gate nor on the front courtyard's basement hatch door, for instance. Open House for All at my place, it seems. Apparently the wooden roof deck is a nuisance that must be abated as well. The iron handrail on the front steps is defective -- if so, then so are the hadrails on 90% of my neighbors' homes. Any advice from violations veterans?
October 9, 2009
Live Work Rezoning
My landlady wants to change the CofO in my building (M1-5B Zoned). My floor will be joint live work quarters (i have an artist certificate). Now the architect tells me that the following changes need to be made which i find very hard to believe: EVERY bathroom must be wheelchair accessible? (there's 2 bathrooms and apparently its not enough if one of them is). Additionally there must be a sprinklerhead in front of EVERY window, one foot distance to it. its an old loft building with existing sprinkler system. Can someone recommend an architect that knows what must be changed?
Thank you
October 8, 2009
BBQ on the Roof
I am looking to install a legal, permitted, grill on the roof of my coop. Does anyone have any experience/advice they can give me?
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?