rjm's Profile

  • rob
  • 1997
  • 2008
  • Brooklyn
  • Carroll Gardens
  • Rental
  • designer
  • Male
  • 33

Author's Posts

November 5, 2008

looking to add another floor.....

Hi,

I currently live in a 2 story brownstone in Carroll Gardens on a Place street that is separated as a 2 family ( basement/parlor/1st as one unit and the 2nd as another with approximately 750 sq'). It is flanked by one brownstone that is of equal height and another that is 2 additional stories.

I am looking at adding an additional floor to expand the 2nd unit as well as have a functional roof deck above that.

With the rezoning passed earlier in the year I am unsure if this will be possible. While the current height of the brownstone is far below the height restriction I think that the Floor Area Ratio will be above the allowed ( I am near a corner so the backyard is truncated ).

Please let me stress that this will not be a monstrosity like what was done on 3rd place and clinton. I want it to blend in seamlessly with the current facades of the surrounding brownstones.

This is my first attempt at this and I really don't know where to begin. Do I find an architect first or a lawyer?

I would be extremely grateful if anyone can provide me with insight as well as names so I can get this started.

I did notice that walking around in the neighborhood that someone on 3rd between Clinton and Henry is adding additional floors as well.

Thank you,

Posted in Forum by rjm at 1:09 PM | Comments (6)
Categories: Renovation

Author's Comments

Just curious as to what yearly income you need to be able to qualify for the $729k loan. I know alot of factors are involved, but a ballpark number will be fine.

Posted by: rjm at November 16, 2009 10:58 AM in response to Extension of Higher Conforming Loan Limits a Boost?

http://www.prudentialelliman.com/NYCPhotos/buildings/de/101229.1229124131.jpg

I don't see a sink there.

Posted by: rjm at October 15, 2009 3:05 PM in response to House of the Day: 295 Pacific Street Revisited

I believe I read somewhere that the conforming loan limit of $729,500 does not apply to condos.

Posted by: rjm at September 9, 2009 12:20 PM in response to Advice on Mortgage Rate

I am pretty sure that Calpurnia obtained a liquor license as they will be serving free a glass of wine to anyone who stops in tomorrow night. I think the article was the reason it took them so long to acquire the license.

The colors of "Snack Shop" are absolutely horrendous, clearly they didn't hire any type of designer. They are going to be a bakery/gourmet shop according to a worker.

Posted by: rjm at April 22, 2009 12:24 PM in response to Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up

"I consider Astoria, Jackson Heights, Kensington, Midwood and Ditmas Park nice neighborhoods where you can buy a home on 100K a year salary."

I haven't done much research into schools in those areas, but what about "smarter" folks who are planning to buy a place so they can raise a family and not have to move 3 times or put their kids in private school ( not that I can afford that anyways ).

Posted by: rjm at April 15, 2009 12:52 PM in response to 208 Midwood Sells for $995,000

My wife and I actually went to an open house a couple months ago. The agent said that the mezzanines with the built up floor ( 2' high cheap construction boxes ) could be removed after you moved in, but if you wanted to resell, you had to add the higher floors back in. Personally I found the positioning of windows to be difficult to fully drape and the stairs between the 2 floors extremely hazardous being narrow and steep ( I would never want my kids running up and down those ). The Developers Group used to have floor plans on their site as well as some better photos, but all of the photos were only of the one show unit.

In addition the Satori is pretty close to the F/G.

Posted by: rjm at April 10, 2009 4:38 PM in response to Satori Developers Try for a Mulligan

The prices look exactly spot on from what The Developers Group was asking, I always remembered the most expensive one was 805k.

Posted by: rjm at April 10, 2009 9:56 AM in response to Satori Developers Try for a Mulligan

Do these real estate agents really do their homework, I know I went to Pratt Institute, not Pratt University.

Posted by: rjm at April 6, 2009 2:07 PM in response to House of the Day: 20 Clifton Place

billy,

I feel the same way as you, except it has to do with a similarly neglected brownstone on 2nd Place, then there is the place on Kane Street. It just makes me mad that people let this happen.

Posted by: rjm at March 25, 2009 12:32 PM in response to Foreclosure of the Week: 29 Lefferts Place

Unit 4 is listed at 817 sq ft versus 1,075 sq ft for all others, so it is probably set in from the back of the house. Given the whole house is 20 ft wide, that would make the setback around 10 ft.

Posted by: rjm at March 18, 2009 2:16 PM in response to House of the Day: 52 Strong Place

and the astroturf in the backyard.....

Posted by: rjm at March 18, 2009 1:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 52 Strong Place

My wife and I walked by this place last weekend ( trying to find a brownstone to buy ), I pointed it out to her and she didn't even notice it because it was so hideous. I really can't believe they are asking that much for something that looks like that. The only upside is the location.

Posted by: rjm at March 18, 2009 1:51 PM in response to House of the Day: 52 Strong Place

Would this place happen to be on 2nd place?

Posted by: rjm at January 6, 2009 11:30 AM in response to renovation, and insanity

I have already been through all this with an architect, being near a corner we got the short end of the stick on lot size and have a truncated backyard.

Posted by: rjm at November 25, 2008 4:56 PM in response to BSA Hooks Up 360 Smith

It has nothing to do with the height of the building, in the rezoning law that got passed this summer due to the community protest.

In addition to height restrictions, the total square footage to lot area size ratio ( FAR ) changed from 3.0 to 2.2, which I am sure not everyone who signed this petition knew exactly what it meant.

Posted by: rjm at November 25, 2008 3:29 PM in response to BSA Hooks Up 360 Smith

Pretty sad that they can build this abomination, yet due to the rezoning I can't add 1 additional floor to a 2 story brownstone down the block, all the while trying to maintain the historical facade and look of the street.

Posted by: rjm at November 25, 2008 2:33 PM in response to BSA Hooks Up 360 Smith

Well it is my hopes that the addition will just be a continuation of the facade with the last step of construction being a complete refacing of the building.

Anyone know of good local architects?

Posted by: rjm at November 6, 2008 8:37 AM in response to looking to add another floor.....