Removal of iron bars in landmarked block?
We just bought the garden level of a brownstone coop on a landmarked block in pslope. We’d like to permanently remove the ironwork on the two front windows as they block a lot of light. (Yes, we know the security issues of doing that.) One window has possibly original ironwork, the other has the bottom…
We just bought the garden level of a brownstone coop on a landmarked block in pslope. We’d like to permanently remove the ironwork on the two front windows as they block a lot of light. (Yes, we know the security issues of doing that.) One window has possibly original ironwork, the other has the bottom half with the top rebuilt to accept an airconditioner (which we will also remove). Can we just remove them or do we have to get permission from lpc?
Sorry if this has been covered
yes, and if I lived in this coop, I know what I’d tell you – if you want to alter the exterior of the building at will, buy your own house.
Ah yes, it’s a coop.
Additonally, the co-op may have some opinion regarding the security implications here – any damage done to the building by someone attempting to break in would be covered by the building’s insurance policy, and they may have a discount for having those bars.
I do think this is a co-op issue – remember you don’t actually own your apartment, only up to the paint on the walls. The rest belongs to the co-op corporation, especially something on the exterior of the building. So even if you weren’t landmarked you’d need the co-op’s OK to remove them.
Whatever you do, don’t give the iron work away. If the LPC, for some reason, investigates and issues a warning letter, the remedy will be to simply replace the iron. Easy to do if you still have it. Costly if you don’t.
You might want to involve your co-op board. In the (admittedly unlikely) event of an LPC violation being issued I think the violation would go to the building as a whole, rather than to you as an individual share holder.
You might want to involve your co-op board. In the (admittedly unlikely) event of an LPC violation being issued I think the violation would go to the building as a whole, rather than to you as an individual share holder.
if you’re interested in selling it, we need bars for our lower windows – let me know an email to write you – thx!
just remove