Change configuration of two family?

Can’t seem to find any info on this thorny issue and would love input from architects or engineers. We own a three story two family building (no C of O but iCards confirm) that is currently configured as top floor apartment and a basement/parlor duplex. We’re planning renovations and would love to switch the rental unit to the basement and make the parlor and top floor a duplex, however we’ve been told that for some quirky reason you can’t just swap configuration–the city then considers the house a multi-family. Assuming the basements meets all other code requirements for light/air/egress etc, is it possible to do this and do we need to file for a C of O to accomplish it? And is it complicated/pricey?

Lurker

in Building Code 12 years and 3 months ago

4

Please log in, in order to post replies!

4 replies

Newest Oldest

manhatta | 12 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5003 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4950 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "179247"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(8) "manhatta"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B5ThwroNGrx5HRm0tpEC4ampUcinZa/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(8) "manhatta"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "richard@manhatta.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(50) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/manhatta/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:03:33"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "r2CK0TeTRkmiqyKeY1Qo"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(8) "manhatta"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(179247)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Based on the information you have provided, the proposed scope of work sounds like an Alt-1 renovation. An Alt-1 is a major alteration in which the use or occupancy of an existing property changes. In order to provide a full assessment, I would need to get additional information on the property. Feel free to contact me directly to discuss specific issues pertaining to your property in more detail. I am a licensed architect with extensive residential experience in the New York City metro. Regards, Richard richard@manhatta.net http://www.manhatta.net

Amym718 | 12 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5002 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5001 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "154940"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "Amym718"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BB4sbIHZkGBj41p7PNFIs2g4N3KWZ3."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "Amym718"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(28) "mintzersweeney@earthlink.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(22) "/forums/users/amym718/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2011-04-14 19:57:43"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(7) "Amym718"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(154940)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

You will need to file plans for approval (they’ve got to OK all the details of the new basement apt) and for a change of CofO because the use and occupancy (I think that’s the phrase) of individual floors is changing.

Lurker | 12 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4998 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5004 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "113126"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "Lurker"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Biam83uc193o8.v5qK1VChb9yjJ5vu."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "lurker"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "jcjedi_10003@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(21) "/forums/users/lurker/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2011-01-19 18:44:20"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "Lurker"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(113126)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

That’s good to hear, however what is the process–do I need to file something like a C of O or can I just switch the configuration on our own and it comes out in the paperwork with DOB? I guess I don’t understand why we were lead to believe that doing so automatically makes it so that the DOB deems the house as a multi-family, rather than simply a change of configuration.

jockdeboeraia | 12 years and 3 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5003 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5005 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "40876"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "jockdeboeraia"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BTfkV3DGGseot8oNyuG6kVhsNhUD2n1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "jockdeboeraia"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(22) "jdeboer@jockdeboer.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(31) "/forums/users/deboerarchitects/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:15:51"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "VK4zWrfWbTPHLfSSlGZI"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "jockdeboeraia"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(40876)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

That is not hard to do.