Common Hallway When Combining Two Units in a Brownstone

We live in a four unit brownstone. Unit 1 is a ground floor + basement duplex. Unit 2 is a parlor floor + second floor duplex. Unit 3 is the third floor. Unit 4 is the fourth floor. If unit 3 and 4 were combined into one apartment, would the renovation be allowed to take over and enclose the common hallway on the third floor and the common staircase up to the fourth floor? Unit 1 has no access to the main part of the building. Unit 2 has their own exist out the back into the garden. Where can I research building codes to find out if incorporating the common hall and stairs would be permitted?

ahdb

in Building Code 11 years and 4 months ago

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dazednconfused2 | 11 years and 3 months ago

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deanbh, Forgive me, I did not see any replies to this thread. I thought I was subscribed to the thread, but apparently not. Someone else just emailed me and said I should check back into it. I’m not unwilling to share, it’s just that the solution was specific to the layout of the particular building, and without posting plans and a long winded description, it would be hard to accurately describe the solution. What I can say, is that after several reconsideration attempts and discussions with the deputy chief at the DOB, we arrived at a complex arrangement involving two scuttles, one of which was two stories tall. The job was approved, built, and is now in the sign-off process, and the client is very happy. It’s definitiely not a solution that will work in every case, so it was much more useful to discuss the conditions of the OP’s situation and see if it would apply in this case.

deanbh | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Shame we never did get Jim to post how/why he thought he was able to get this approved all above board etc….

ahdb | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Are the rules re: roof access for the FDNY the same for a two-unit building?

deanbh | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Jim, is there a reason why you cant post the details here? I’m also curious about this answer as I was always told you need two entry/exits….

Augustiner | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Plus you need a skylight in the hallway, so you need to create a shaft through the top floor.

dazednconfused2 | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Call me if you want. I’ll be in for another 15 minutes. Jim Hill (646) 309-7259

ahdb | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Interesting. Thanks! How did you provide roof access that didn’t require going into your apartment?

dazednconfused2 | 11 years and 4 months ago

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We’ve done exactly that in a recent renovation. Jock’s right though, as it was tricky and did require a CCD (reconsideration) for an odd way of providing roof access.

jockdeboeraia | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Mostly likely not, you need to provide fdny access to the roof and the dead end travel distance would possibly be too long. That is something you would need to file a CCD for.