Forum: Zoning
November 12, 2009
Remedies for violation of FAR
There's a building near me that I realzied excceeds FAR for the zoning on our block. Can DOB or another city agency force the owner to reduce the size of the building even if the building has been in that state for years or even decades? I figure there must be some type of grandfathering or statute of limitations, but didn't see anything on the Dep't of City Planning site.
October 23, 2009
Mailing Addresses: BK vs QNS
Why is that for any address in any neighborhood in Brooklyn it is simply Brooklyn, NY ZIP.. While in Queens it is usually Neighborhood, NY ZIP .. (i.e. Long Island City, NY.. Astoria, NY etc etc)
Was just wondering!
September 19, 2009
2 Years Revert to Residential?
I know that I've seen this topic pop up before on Brownstoner, but cannot find the reference. Hoping someone can help, though ultimately I know a real estate lawyer would have the scoop. Here is my question:is it true that if the commercial space of a mixed-use building in a commercial overlay zone (C1 or C2) is used as residential/not commercially for two years it reverts to fully residential status? Would such a building then be able to be financed using a traditional home mortgage as opposed to a mixed-use mortgage? If anyone has had experience with this scenario, I would love to hear about it. Thanks!
September 6, 2009
Ditmas Park Zoning
Hey all:
I have a woman friend with a couple of grown daughters and grandchildren, a sister, and a couple of others, and she wants to gather them all under one roof and live happily ever after.
Therefore she is thinking of buying one of those big Ditmas Park houses. But I suspect she thinks she can put in several apartments with individual kitchens and baths. I suspect not.
She's currently living in a nabe where the DOB never comes by and people do what they want. I don't think Ditmas Park is like that.
Are those big DP houses one family, two family, multiple dwellings? Whats the zoning and what is typical for a c of o in those big houses?
September 3, 2009
Changing Commercial Zoned Floor
Hi guys,
I am looking at purchasing a floor in a 4 story loft that is zoned for commercial use. The first two floors of the building are zoned commercial and the top two are zoned residential. The thing is I would not need the entire space for my business. So my question is does anyone know if it's possible to change a floor to a work/live zoning and if so how involved is this? Additionally, what are the ramifications of just living and working out of a commercial zoned floor in a building like this? Do city officials actually drop by to see if there are living quarters? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
July 24, 2009
Zoning Lawyer Needed
I just learned that a developer is looking to rezone my block in order to build their project. This is particularly upsetting since my neighbors and I worked hard to get it rezoned just about 2 years ago. Does anyone have any good referrals or have experience with a similar issue?
July 1, 2009
Save the view from Sunset Park
This morning at 10 a.m., the Dept. of City Planning (22 Reade Street-Manhattan) is holding a hearing on the Proposed Re-zoning Plan before sending it to the City Council. In spite of the extreme short notice (we just heard about this), we'd appreciate your support to limit 5th Avenue to 4-story/4th Avenue to 6-story buildings. The view belongs to all New Yorkers, not just to us.
Please help us preserve it!
June 19, 2009
Douglass Street Signage Legal?
Has anyone noticed a business on Douglass btwn Court & Smith? They now have major advertisements on their brownstone building. Is this possibly legal? It's not too distasteful, but it is a RESIDENTIAL block. There must be zoning laws that prevent this. Please advise!!!
June 10, 2009
Cobble Hill or Carroll Gardens?
Where does Carroll Gardens start and Cobble Hill end? I have seen it a number of different ways and am still confused.
May 30, 2009
Change from 1 Family to 2 Family
We're thinking of purchasing a brownstone in Park Slope and, after lurking here, I feel so much better educated about the whole process. I do, though, still have a few questions and I'm hoping some of you may be able to provide some guidance. Several of the properties we are considering are either 1 family homes or are "currently being used as a 2 family" or "currently being used as a 1 family with a professional office/tenant on the garden level." We need a two family house, though we won't be formally renting the garden level (there will be family living there). How difficult/costly (from a permit perspective, not a renovation perspective) is it to change from any of the above to a legal 2 family residence? If we are not formally renting the garden level apartment do we need to legally change to a 2 family (all the work will be done above board and permitted)?