emil's Profile
Author's Posts
February 4, 2008
Architect Recommendation
We just signed on a double duplex townhouse in clinton hill/border of bed stuy.
can someone pls recommend an architect that has experience with those old houses (1910). we are looking to renovate the lower duplex.
thank you
December 23, 2007
Recommendation for an architect
We are looking to renovate 2 stories of a brownstone in clinton hill (lower duplex).
can anyone recommend an architect?
thanks
December 19, 2007
Did anyone used Danny Isla as an engineer?
We need a recommendation for a structural engineer.
Did anyone used Danny Isla?
Thanks
December 16, 2007
Recommendation for structural engineer
We are looking for a structural engineer to get an estimate for a main beam replacement / reenforcement. can anyone recommend someone they actually used for something as such? thanks a lot.
December 9, 2007
main beam (girder) replacement
we are about to purchase a townhouse in clinton hill.
we did an inspection and found out there is a problem with the main beam at the basement.
it is an all-wood beam that is weak and there are some tracks of termites around it.
the engineer said we will have to replace it with a steel beam or to re-enforce it. also few of the poles need replacement (most of the poles were already replaced with steel ones).
did someone had any experience with something like that?
can anybody recommend a structural contractor that can deal with that? How much something like that costs?
thank you very much
Author's Comments
Thank you Jessy.
can you provide an e-mail so i can ask more questions?
i was trying to google christopher with not much luck.
are you in brooklyn?
if yes, can we see his work?
hope this is not too much....
thank you very much.
Posted by: emil at December 26, 2007 1:55 AM in response to Recommendation for an architect
Thank you so much everybody. that is very helpful
Posted by: emil at December 10, 2007 10:59 PM in response to zoning question
Thank You. 11:27
i did check nyc zoning before posting here, but couldn't understand it completely. that is why i posted this question.
we are going to buy a house and the zoning say R6 in our block and the next 2 blocks around us....
2 blocks away, it says R6B
can anyone help with that?
thanks
Posted by: emil at December 10, 2007 12:10 PM in response to zoning question
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
YEAH THE R6 HAS A B AT THE END
Posted by: guest at December 10, 2007 1:33 PM in response to zoning question
The B means less $$$$$$$$
Posted by: guest at December 10, 2007 1:37 PM in response to zoning question
It's a bit complicated, but in general, the higher the number in a zoning designation, the denser (R4 is less dense than R6), and the B suffixes designate areas that are "contextual". That means the city allows for certain liberties in exchange for fitting into the existing context (only in terms of bulk etc., not style). For example, in R6, the FAR (the size of all your floor plates divided by the size of your lot) is variable depending on how many stories you build, and you can THEORETICALLY build as many as you want but they have to step back etc. In R6B, you can build 50' tall, you have to have a 30-40foot "base" (your facade has to align with your neighbors') and then step back 15'. But then you get a higher overall FAR.
I hope this makes some sense.
Posted by: billie 786 at December 10, 2007 2:24 PM in response to zoning question
The ubiquitous R6 should be called R22--there's always a catch.
Posted by: guest at December 10, 2007 3:08 PM in response to zoning question
"and then step back 15'"
makes sense except for this part.
please clarify?
Posted by: guest at December 10, 2007 3:47 PM in response to zoning question
r6 is a bigger FAR multiple than r6b, usu r6b is brooklyn and before some of the recent rezoning (down zoning on some residential streets) it was a multiple of 2.2x (r6 is usu 2.49x). so if the plot is 20x100=2000, 2000x2.2=4400, so the total living sf allowable would be 4400. in other words if the building is 20x40 and is 4 stories in this theorectical plot, 3200 of the possible 4400 would be built out allowing for an extension. clearly there are more complicated aspects of the zoning but this is the jist. hope it is helpful
Posted by: guest at December 10, 2007 9:43 PM in response to zoning question
The categories have different base FAR (density).
R6 provides two paths for construction - quality housing and height factor. Quality housing has a height limit, with a slightly higher FAR and results in squat, dense buildings. Height factor has no height limit, and results in "finger buildings" (the height is limited by FAR and a "sky exposure plane" - so the buildings set back, or are set back initially and rise straight up). Street width is one factor in deciding which option to pursue - a wide street under quality housing yields more floor area than a height factor building on the same street). Also, in R6 zones you can get a bonus for providing a community facility.
R6A and R6B are contextual zoning categories (I'm pretty certain the "B" is not for Brooklyn). R6B has the lowest FAR among R6 zones, a 40' street wall height limit and an overall height limit of 50'. Community facility bonuses can't be taken in R6A and R6B zones.
Posted by: WBer at December 10, 2007 10:00 PM in response to zoning question
Thank you so much everybody. that is very helpful
Posted by: emil at December 10, 2007 10:59 PM in response to zoning question
Hello again. You ask what i mean by 'then step back'. So you'll have a facade 30'-40' tall, you cannot go higher. However, if you step back (make a 15' deep terrace on the roof) you can add another 1-2 floors and go up to 50' high. the idea is that people form the street will only see the 30'-40'wall.
Good luck!
Posted by: billie 786 at December 11, 2007 6:19 PM in response to zoning question
I would recommend Sarah Jefferys - she does really beautiful work - we lived together in a Brooklyn brownstone building for years and she did gorgeous ikea kitchen renovations in both our rental apts for our landlord very cheaply and fast. But she also does high end beautiful kitchens which I have also seen. Here is her website:
Posted by: guest at December 26, 2007 12:41 PM in response to Recommendation for an architect
can you send photos please to anatishai@nyc.rr.com?
thanks
Posted by: emil at November 13, 2008 11:29 PM in response to steel front and back door gates and window bars