Help! In Love With a Barn
We renovated a 3 family frame in Williamsburg 3 years ago and things are going very well. One of the main reasons we bought the building is because we fell in love with this unique “back building” that exists where a yard would be. The back building is 35 x 50, 25 ft ceilings, wrought…
We renovated a 3 family frame in Williamsburg 3 years ago and things are going very well. One of the main reasons we bought the building is because we fell in love with this unique “back building” that exists where a yard would be. The back building is 35 x 50, 25 ft ceilings, wrought iron mezzanine, 10 ft ceiling basement,pitched roof with monitor and is essentially, a falling down barn. We need an open minded architect and contractor who can see the potential and help us nurse this baby back to life with a limited budget. This is not for the faint of heart. We, of course, value good work and expertise, we just don’t have the funds to pour into it. We are open to recommendations, advice, pointing and laughing. We fell in love with a truly unique space that is screaming “money pit” and we are trying to get it into some sort of viable state. Please help!
This sounds like a cool building. Why don’t you post photos?
I don’t think the renovation will be as much of a challenge as getting the approval to use the space as a separate apartment. Is it currently sprinklered? How far is the door of the place from the sidewalk?
You may already be swimming in architects & contractors willing to offer advice, but I figured I’d offer as well just in case you’re still looking. I’m an engineer who moonlights as general contractor & architect, and who just recently finished suffering through my own full brownstone reno[see brownstoner link below], so hopefully I’ll have some unique perspective.
Link:
http://bstoner.wpengine.com/brownstoner/archives/2009/08/gut_reno_on_gat.php
If that piques your interest sufficiently, my email is- eli [at] turner-engineering[dot]com.
Best of Luck!
-Eli
Regardless of what the legal use might be, the structure itself is grandfathered and therefore allowed to remain. But if something should happen to it, it probably can’t be rebuilt. So make sure that the architect and contractor are versed in all of the vesting and grandfathering rules. If a certain percentage of the walls, etc. are demolished, you can lose your grandfathering – this happened to a friend of mine in Red Hook.
As for the use, a good expeditor or land use attorney might be able to change the use back to commercial, or to something other than 1 family, if that is what you want. Sounds like you are changing the CO from a 1-family to something else – given the complexities of the uses, grandfathering and prior COs, a good land use lawyer could be money well spent.
J/k… sounds like cool project. you should get someone to do draw plans and do sub’ing yourself. isn’t hard, saves you money, and you’ll learn a lot.
who would ever use a design build team?;)
I’m curious where exactly this is…
Our design studio is based in Williamsburg, and I live there also, and I’ve seen buildings such as what you describe and wondered what kind of conditions they were in.
I’d be interested just to see it and have a conversation with you as I’m already in the area daily. Our work is primarily architecture + design on a variety o scales, but I’m always interested in the potential of these urban relics you find peppered around Williamsburg especially.
Drop a line if you have time to chat and we can make ourselves available to meet up and take a look with you.
Regards,
George
George Roushakes, R.A., Principal
PULSE3AM…architecture+design
T: 917.647.2678 | E:george@pulse3am.com
Termites and Beetles are not a problem…years(like 30) of water damage is. The building was once a dance hall for the church around the corner and appears on Sanborn maps back to 1901. The c of o in 1945 classified it as a rear building commercial but, the a previous owner messed up the C of O in 85 and called everything, the 3 fam and the back building, a 1 family. We’ve been told that it could never be commercial again but that it is possible to make it residential. Ideally we’d create a one of a kind live/work space for a tenant for a few years, and then move into it ourselves.
Thank you for your comments…we already feel a little more hopeful.
That kid from Russia is on his way back to live with us so, that should give us a leg up with Extreme Home Makeover.
As an architect, I’ve got to second Rodriguez’s statement. It sounds like a heckuva lotta fun!
Years ago I did a project where we renovated an old timber and balloon frame barn on Long Island. It was first moved to a new location and placed on new foundations, then we renovated it one story at a time. so the owner could live in it in stages. It was a fun and very interesting project.
I’d love to speak with you about it. I work hand-in-hand with a contractor as a design-build partnership, so we’re very hands-on and are always looking for something outside the norm. Please call me. I’d really love to speak with you about the project. If you’re curious about who we are, just click on my name and see some of our previous posts. You’ll get a good idea of how we work as a design-build team.
Jim Hill, RA, LEED AP
Urban Pioneering Architecture
(646) 309-7259
adopt like 15 kids from different countries (preferably they all have some kind of rare medical condition) and then contact the producers of Extreme Home Makeover.
*rob*