Neighbors building an extension

Workisfun, I ended up heavily editing my original post because Mr. Scott still terrifies me. There is a lot more to this story, including exactly how his house burned down to begin with!

catbk

in About Brooklyn 10 years and 2 months ago

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prospectparkgirl | 10 years and 2 months ago

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I own a small brick/frame house in Windsor Terrace. I just learned by chance (I overheard his architect discussing the plans in his back yard) that my adjoining neighbor is planning on building a three story extension onto the back of his house. There is a nicely installed wooden fence between our properties, that was there before either of us bought our places. For some reason it does not go straight back from our party wall, but instead makes a L-shaped turn into my property about 10 inches and then goes straight back. I had a survey done when I bought the place 9 years ago, but there are so many lines I can’t really read it. I’m not certain whether the fence defines our property, or if it is encroaching on my property (Back yards in this area are a hodge podge – everyone’s cutting into everyone else’s) I know from the architect’s comments that these people intend to follow the fence line, and build their extension 10 inches wider than the back of their house. Not so fast there, buddy! Basically what I’m asking is how do I determine exactly where the property line is, so they do not encroach with their construction. The survey I have was done in 2006 by Christopher M. Buckley of Precision Surveys – there’s a caveat on it that it is not intended to guide the erection of structures or other construction. Can I have someone come and physically delineate the property line? If so, who does this kind of work, and could you please make a recommendation? Many thanks!

GreenThinker | 10 years and 2 months ago

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It’ll be your neighbors responsibility to do all that, in order to get permits and approval from the city for the extension. He’ll have to get a detailed survey with stake markers done. Then send that to the city with a complete drawing of how the extension will look like.

thetinkerswagon | 10 years and 2 months ago

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ok, going by what others have said on here, if that fence is on your property, then you own it. if that is the case, I would get another survey done and confirm where the line is and I would then move that fence – and keep it on your side of the line. Pretend you did not hear that conversation as well. I don’t know a lot about these things other than that it seems once an encroachment occurs, it can hard to undo. we have one here, my neighbor’s fence does an l thing into their yard because they do not want me to remove a curb that sits on our common lot line. But I have always acknowledged that as being their property and would never deny them that. But my mother had another issue on LI with her neighbors and her fence which was about 3′ inside the line and she noticed that they had been planting very expensive shrubs and plantings on her land and all she asked for was a signed letter acknowledging her rights to her property. when they did not sign the letter, she had her attorney advise them that she was moving the fence and they should remove their plantings. they did, but she did not really care, she was worried what would happen 10 or 20 years from now when she went to sell. I would get a survey very fast and act on it. also, i would maybe take that fence down and install a new one at your cost and if anyone goes to remove it, tell them they are not to touch it. now I may be all wrong about this, but that is how I would protect my rights. let’s see what others say. it is one thing to let someone use your property, it is another for them to build on it. maybe someone can tell you if other surveys are filed. and what about the info on your deed? Steve

Arkady | 10 years and 2 months ago

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Go to this link http://www1.nyc.gov/home/search/index.page?search-terms=deeds&collection=&start-number=0 & look at 2nd entry. It shows how to get a copy of your deed which should have a survey. I had a fence that dog-legged to allow a tree. The tree died & I had the fence straightened out.

thetinkerswagon | 10 years and 2 months ago

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it may be their responsibility but if something goes wrong and they get it, it will be hard to get rid of. you have to do your due diligence to protect yourself. and I would straighten that fence out now; trying to do so after the program is under way will look punitive. remember, you never heard a thing (they may be reading this here though).

prospectparkgirl | 10 years and 2 months ago

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Thank you for your thoughts and advice, it’s very helpful

carmenf | 10 years and 2 months ago

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Your neighbor will have to get a survey done as a part of the Alt1 permits (assuming that -they pull them.) This *should* eliminate any issues- our examiner was giving us grief about literally 1 inch on the back of our property line where the chainlink fence is apparently technically on the neighbors property (we are not even building back there.) They seem to be pretty rigorous about property lines. That said, I would straighten out the fence myself to ensure that the neighbors know you are paying attention to the issue.

workisfun | 10 years and 2 months ago

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Has anyone ever seen a building or part of one, that crossed a property line, ordered to be removed (torn down)?

johnife | 10 years and 2 months ago

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Has any Brownstoner has experience of dealing with (either as a victim or a beneficiary) an adverse possession case? This is where someone occupies a portion of a neighbor’s property over a number of years (I think 20 or more) without an objection being raised and New York law allows the “usurper” to claim the portion being used as his/hers.

catbk | 10 years and 2 months ago

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“Has anyone ever seen a building or part of one, that crossed a property line, ordered to be removed (torn down)?” workisfun, yes. And it was an amazing story. The attorney mentioned enchroached on property and overbuilt, and after a long history of similar behavior, was finally stopped for good. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/04/nyregion/finale-to-zoning-opera.html

workisfun | 10 years and 2 months ago

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catbk – thanks for the link. kind of hilarious. although i know well that the intimidation is real and there is lots of money squandered, because someone decides to be a cowboy. my situation definitely has some similarities, but is not as colorful…yet!