Two Family Question

Two family, which is three floors. Top floor, middle floor, and cellar (Top floor and middle floor are listed as dwelling units on CO, cellar is listed as storage on CO). I want to make top floor and middle floor a combined 3 bedroom apartment for myself and cellar its own apartment, keeping the house a two family. The cellar ceilings are over 7 feet in height, the cellar ceiling is close to being 50% above the sidewalk grade, there is egress from the cellar to the front of the house by a door with steps up to the sidewalk and a walkout door to the backyard. I believe I have to get the cellar reclassified as a basement on the CO, and meet the requirements for ceiling hieght, ceiling more than 50% above sidewalk grade, light, and air. My major issue would be the ceiling being 50% above sidewalk grade. Does anyone have any expierence with this, suggestions, comments? thanks

rhjmem

in Building Code 10 years and 4 months ago

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mario71 | 10 years and 4 months ago

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I agree with Springs: finish your cellar and duplex it with your parlor floor. Use it as you see fit and rent out the 2nd floor if what you’re looking for is rental income. If turning a cellar into a legal dwelling basement were easy, thousands of homeowners would be doing it. If your cellar height is below 8ft, you still need to either dig out or remove plaster/sheetrock off the ceiling to go back to the beams and see if that would get you 8ft. Either way it’s unlikely you’ll end up 50% above ground.

Springs | 10 years and 4 months ago

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just finish off the basement to a level comparable with the top floor. you will have the top floor, duplexed with the basement. that way you avoid all DOB stuff

brucef | 10 years and 4 months ago

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It sounds like a good idea, but it isn’t. That large an Alt-1 will trigger all new compliance with modern standards, you are giving away the valuable “grandfathered status of existing conditions. The delays on approvals other soft costs, and unnecessary requirements blow any reasonable budget out of the water. If you accurately figured your ROI was 40 years would you still think it was a good idea?

bobjohn | 10 years and 4 months ago

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I think you need 8′ ceilings and absolutly greater then 50% above the grade. another important moment, by adding cellar you increase FAR by 50% and this can exceed zoning rules. And you cannot do much about it. I would consider other way around: rent one real floor and create owner apartment from another floor and the basement. I have seen very good setup with first floor and basement or even second floor and basement.