Two kitchens
Is it illegal to have two kitchens in one apartment? We are thinking of moving back in to my parents loft because they are getting old and need help. We would like to live in one half of the loft while my parents live in the other. We would share a common living area. I…
Is it illegal to have two kitchens in one apartment? We are thinking of moving back in to my parents loft because they are getting old and need help. We would like to live in one half of the loft while my parents live in the other. We would share a common living area. I have gotten a lot of conflicting advice from architects as to whether we would have to amend our CofO or just go ahead and file a plumbing amendment for a dishwasher and a washer/dryer (there is already a utility sink on file with the bldg dept.
Any thoughts?
why not just put in a 1/4 bath and get a convection oven for it? there are some very nice convection ovens out there for a few hundred dollars — that would do most of what you need.
Before you get involved with DOB/architects, etc., I’d talk to the co-op board. Depending on how strict the Board is, they might never let you put in a second kitchen and/or divide the space into two lofts. I’m not an architect or a contractor, but was very involved in loft legalization a while back. And not to add to your problems, but dividing the loft might well create a second-means-of-egress problem (fire escape). My recommendation would be to move into the space as-is and not complicate either your parents’ lives or your own.
Thanks everyone for your responses. Iris, the loft is in a 5 flr coop.
I went down to the DOB last night which was “Homeowner’s night” where plan examiners answer questions homeowners have.
I spoke to the head plan examiner. He said that anything that even appears to be a kitchen in a one unit dwelling no matter how large the space will be rejected. I have to make the loft into two separate apartments which will amend our CO and thus require approval of our coop board.
And no eman1234, I don’t want to create a nightmare for my parents it was just that I don’t have the money to tackle a huge project such as this. We had a plan examiner in 2001 tell us that if we ever created two separate units we would have to put in a sprinkler system. A sprinkler system is not cheap.
At this point I am not sure what to do.
You haven’t said whether this loft is in a co-op, condo or rental building. Each of these possibilities will present other complications for your project.
bite the bullet and hire an architect, file plans and do it right..the minimum fine by the dob will be $5000 and you will have created a nightmare for your parents in their waning years.. is that what you really want to do?
The DoB is beginning to challenge the kosher kitchen exemption, fyi, or at least make it more difficult. I did this in a change of C of O last year and they required affadavits from the client’s rabbi that this was a requirement, it was something of a hassle.
Two kitchens in one household is not entirely uncommon (already cited: kosher kitchens). The CO is not necessarily affected, but the arrangement needs to be in compliance with DOB regulations. Electrical code is also an issue (i.e. not just plumbing). Since you’re getting conflicting opinions, review the code and requirements with more than one architect or a code compliance expert, or ask your question at a DOB homeowners evening.
New York Times recently had an articale about roomates who did a loft reno with two kitchens- worth checking out. They wanted the companionship, but still wanted to have separate cooking/working areas. Look in the archives of the weekend real estate section.
When having our loft appraised, our “Kosher” household slid by with two kitchens.