3 Family

We’re considering the conversion of a 4 story/2 family row house property into a 3 family – with a garden apt, duplex and top floor apartment. The house has a vinyl facade over brick – I think it’s referred to as a Federal style? We understand that there are added requirements in the building code, but we would like to get a better idea of the additional costs and whether approval is likely on this type of property. Any input is appreciated.

Alan

in About Brooklyn 11 years and 11 months ago

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Augustiner | 11 years and 11 months ago

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Common hallway needs 2hrs firerated walls and doors. Sprinkler. Steel deck instead of wood deck. If you are doing this for additional rental imcome, do the math: it will add close to 100k to upgrade your house to a 3 family

jimhillra | 11 years and 11 months ago

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One of the biggest hurdles will be sprinklers. If it’s not sprinklered already, assume that you would need to add them, which can easily be $30,000 or more, and that’s not including a new water main from the street if your current one doesn’t have the capacity for a sprinkler system. As Bruce mentioned, it’s quite likely you’d get the approval, but the work can be costly. I occasionally work with developers and as a rule of thumb, they avoid having to change the number of families for this very reason. You might want to consider a double-duplex configuration.

brucef | 11 years and 11 months ago

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The building code that appies to 3 families and up is tremendously different from two or one. Conversion from two to three triggers many requirements, but more significantly, pre-existing non compliant conditions must be upgraded (changed) to present code. I can not conceive of a circumstance in which what you are proposing would be a good idea. Approval is certainly possible, even probable. Just that the cost of doing so would be enough to buy an additional house. To even consider your idea, someone is giving you bad advice.