professorlonghair's Profile
- K. David Cook
- 2009
- Manhattan
- Rental
- Architect
- Male
- 45
- http://assembledspaces.com
Author's Posts
May 22, 2009
2 Family Conundrum
Hi Everyone, I'm considering a house in the PLG "Manor" that is recorded with the city as a 1 family house, but I would like to share the purchase with a friend of mine and create two separate residences. I wonder if it would be possible to change the status of the house to a 2 family, and how difficult such a process might be. Any advice would be appreciated. The two adjacent buildings (which from the street appear to be identical) are recorded with the city as 2 families.
Author's Comments
Thank you for the advice.
Is one allowed a "mother-in-law suite" in the mostly above-grade basement?
Posted by: professorlonghair at May 22, 2009 6:06 PM in response to 2 Family Conundrum
Thank you for the advice.
Is one allowed a "mother-in-law suite" in the mostly above-grade basement?
Posted by: professorlonghair at May 22, 2009 6:06 PM in response to 2 Family Conundrum
Hi dt,
If this is so, then how come 2 families exist on both sides of the house in question?
Posted by: professorlonghair at May 21, 2009 10:47 PM in response to 2 Family Conundrum
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
Such things as mother-in-law suites undoubtedly exist in some houses, usually where there's an extended family living in the house. They generally stay under the radar. However they might not be a good idea if you're sharing the purchase with a friend, especially if you're making changes that require DOB approval, where the R2 zoning would be a bigger problem than the restrictive covenant. I second LM's suggestion to look outside of Lefferts Manor, to avoid potential problems--perhaps as close as the north side of Lincoln Road,or the south side of Fenimore Street.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at May 22, 2009 9:39 PM in response to 2 Family Conundrum
I'd suggest moving to a non-communist/socialist country and doing what you want.
Posted by: goodoleboy at May 23, 2009 1:39 AM in response to 2 Family Conundrum
LOL! I've heard of restrictive covenants being attacked for many reasons, but never for being "communistic/socialist". Thanks for a good laugh goodoleboy.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at May 23, 2009 3:41 PM in response to 2 Family Conundrum
I know, that's hilarious. One-family zoning when attacked in places is generally attacked for being too exclusive, geared towards higher income people and not allowing enough economic diversity in a town. Kind of the opposite of it being seen as communist or socialist.
Posted by: traditionalmod at May 24, 2009 10:42 AM in response to 2 Family Conundrum
This sort of reminds me of the time thirty odd years ago, when I was called a Communist for supporting that hotbed of proletarian class consciousness the PLG HOUSE TOUR. I'm not kidding--it was one of those elderly Lefferts Manor ladies (extinct long ago) who thought that, if we showed how nice our houses were, "they" would come and rob us.
Bob Marvin
PLG Commissar for Agitprop :-)
Posted by: Bob Marvin at May 24, 2009 4:04 PM in response to 2 Family Conundrum
Ahhh.. I just figured out which house you're looking at. The two houses next to it are owned by the same family. The smart cookie matriarch of the family had the designation changed to two family for these houses before the city put in the single family restriction. She has owned her house for 50 years.
Posted by: dt at May 25, 2009 11:16 AM in response to 2 Family Conundrum
Being out-gentrified by younger and wealthier people who look like you did to older people 25 years ago.
Posted by: professorlonghair at November 3, 2009 11:55 PM in response to Closing Bell: Gentrification Indicators