Will my taxes go up? Cellar allowed as "rec room" ?

Hello Brownstoner, We are thinking about reconfiguring the occupancy of a brownstone we are in contract on. This will be a gut reno, and the property is currently a 3 family. Ideally we would like to take the two middle floors and rent out the very top floor, and the ground floor. Additionally, I have been reading up on turning the cellar space into a “rec room”. I have seen this done before and the results are fantastic. The Cellar is currently 7 feet tall so if we did have to dig, I would imagine it wouldn’t be that deep and we could probably get away with not messing with any underpinning. Take a look at the pic. Im being told that the reason for leaving the “ledge” is because they didn’t underpin? So, bottom line is, its a 3 family now, and will remain a 3 family. 1\. Will this trigger sprinklers? 2\. If it requires a CO change because of a reconfiguring the occupancy, will our taxes increase? I saw Jims post on 1-2 families but i didn’t see anything about a 3\. http://brownstoner.staging.wpengine.com/forums/topic/cellar-and-dob/

stuyheights

in Building Code 11 years and 4 months ago

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resident2 | 11 years and 4 months ago

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Yes, you will get hit with an increase your Tax assessment for your “improvements”. It will depend on the $ amount listed on your permits, so do not sign blank permit applications as many architects, contractors who ever you have pulling the permits ask you to do…to save time.

evperry | 11 years and 4 months ago

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The DOB loves sprinklers now a days even on 2 families and 1 families with 3 stories. Assume that you have to sprinkler. If your digging out your floor you will have to underpin. If you add some livable space they will ding you on the taxes. C of O doesn’t need to change and as a matter of fact you should ask your architect to to either self cert or HUB a director 14\. If they do that, they can sign the job off for you and limit your inspections! -e

brucef | 11 years and 4 months ago

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I will try to limit my repeated rants, so here goes… Every thoughtful idea you have that makes sense to most any reasonable person you chat with will be denied at DOB. Every inane expensive requirement will be mandatory. If you were a condo developer looking to build an ugly eyesore.. green lights everywhere. The modest increase in your assessment is the absolute least of your worries. Please get an ASAP education regarding current whims at DOB. Majority of architects understand code and best practices. Too bad DOB is un-interested in statute or industry standards. The changes you describe trigger an Alt-1 and a myriad of other code requirements because too great a percentage of your building is being touched. Today’s best example of useless requirements. Wheel chair guidelines for 4th story walk-up apartment. What you have they can’t force you to change, but your plans effectively have you renounce your present grandfathered status and force new code requirements. Stepping off soapbox now.