"...The first certificate of occupancy for this structure at nyc.gov lists it as having been completed in 1960. That’s dumb, and wrong..."
That's neither dumb nor wrong. Certificates of Occupancy weren't required for new construction until 1938 and they weren't required on existing construction so long as the use didn't change. A lot of multiple dwellings have them because work was performed that either required a new CO, or getting one issued was not a big deal. One and two families, in general, don't have them, because they didn't make the same degree of alterations.
Owners can get a Letter of No Objection from DOB in lieu of a CO, which basically says "we recognize that the house was a 2/3/6 family prior to 1938, has been used the same way ever since, and will continue to be used that way, and we will not object to its use as such". They're not particularly common, but among these buildings, CO's are just as rare.
Great read though. Two questions:
-- Do you know anything about how the grade changed over near Astoria Park South and 21st St? I think it was all re-pitched, but much later than the article suggests.
-- Do you have any information on how they jacked the houses? Jacking that much masonry would be hard without cracking the hell out of it.
"...The first certificate of occupancy for this structure at nyc.gov lists it as having been completed in 1960. That’s dumb, and wrong..." That's neither dumb nor wrong. Certificates of Occupancy weren't required for new construction until 1938 and they weren't required on existing construction so long as the use didn't change. A lot of multiple dwellings have them because work was performed that either required a new CO, or getting one issued was not a big deal. One and two families, in general, don't have them, because they didn't make the same degree of alterations. Owners can get a Letter of No Objection from DOB in lieu of a CO, which basically says "we recognize that the house was a 2/3/6 family prior to 1938, has been used the same way ever since, and will continue to be used that way, and we will not object to its use as such". They're not particularly common, but among these buildings, CO's are just as rare. Great read though. Two questions: -- Do you know anything about how the grade changed over near Astoria Park South and 21st St? I think it was all re-pitched, but much later than the article suggests. -- Do you have any information on how they jacked the houses? Jacking that much masonry would be hard without cracking the hell out of it.
Making the Grade in Laurel Hill