Converting Brownstone Basement into Commercial Kitchen

I agree with @MDR’s suggestion. A brownstone on a residential street will likely not suit your needs and will also receive limited foot traffic due to location. Better would be the small commercial buildings on the commercial corridors @MDR lists. I would add to that list Church Ave. in the Kensington/Ditmas/Flatbush area. There are a number of these types of buildings currently for sale in this area at a price point that compares favorably to similar properties in Carroll Gardens and Fort Greene.

EJR

in General Discussion 9 years and 1 month ago

3

Please log in, in order to post replies!

3 replies

Newest Oldest

mishalouy | 9 years and 1 month ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4971 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4931 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "193480"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "mishalouy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B2ZNfCMynfEtz9FSvBg15Cp8YX7Z1H0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "mishalouy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "mishalouy@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:54:20"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(21) "Misha Louy Misha Louy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(193480)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I am considering purchasing a brownstone that is zoned for both commercial and residential use, and building my retail bakery on the ground floor and licensed kitchen in basement, and then using the upper floors for our home. Does anyone know the basic requirements for building a basement commercial kitchen in Brooklyn? Ceiling height requirements, above/below grade, fire exits, etc? Would love this information to help identify properties that may work and then I would bring in an architect to inspect the property after. Please let me know!

resident2 | 9 years and 1 month ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4972 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4973 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "181002"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "resident2"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BYKCrEpDU34.3RJghRPk8/Xp1XpCve/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "resident2"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(21) "Jamanda1255@Yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:07:33"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "resident2"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(181002)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I see no one is responding to this question; probably because it is not a good idea on so many levels. But there is not enough information for an intelligent answer.
Commercial zoning does not cover all commercial uses, what kind of commercial zoning is needed for a commercial kitchen? and what does the building you are looking at have?, probably not what is needed. The fire codes and health department codes for a commercial kitchen today are pretty strict and complicated in a residential zone.
You may well end up De-valuing the building by creating such a hybrid. Mostly due to the amount of work needed to create it and the end resulting additional on going expenses of additional Real Estate taxes and Insurance rates.
It would probably be more feasible to buy a small commercial building that already has a commercial kitchen. Commercial kitchens need at least two means of egress as well as sprinkler systems etc., so a below grade basement will not work….

MDR | 9 years and 1 month ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4976 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4970 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "170560"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(3) "MDR"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$ByExk3BzJ1aTCBvEcnpSAHe1VHrjYB0"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(3) "mdr"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(21) "jtkoelbel@verizon.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(18) "/forums/users/mdr/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:24:53"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(3) "MDR"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(170560)
  ["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)
}

I think it would be very hard to find a brownstone house to accommodate your plan. And even if it were technically allowed you would be looking at over a year to do the work and change the c of o for the building before you could actually use it. I think it would be better to find a building to buy that already has a commercial kitchen and has an apartment above. You might find that along commercial corridors like 5th and 7th Avenues in Park Slope, Smith Street and Court street in Carroll Gardens, Dekalb Avenue in Fort Greene, etc.