Office / workspace in landmarked townhouse

Looking to buy a home in PLG and noticing that many homes in the landmarked manor have doctor/dentist offices or yoga studio on the ground floor or in the English basements.

What are the regulations are around this? Is it allowed or not allowed but tolerated?

Guest User | 6 years and 9 months ago

3

Please log in, in order to post replies!

3 replies

Newest Oldest

resident2 | 6 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4929 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4917 (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)
}

There are many houses in Prospect Lefferts Gardens that do have a legal use as a Doctors office on the garden floor. It is written on the C of O as such. And they are “Grand fathered in”.
If you want a Doctors / Dentists office then try to buy one that already has that C of O. If it does not already have that legal use, you will not get it today due to the conflicts of Landmarks, Disability Access etc. Plus the expense of it with the R.E Tax reassessment after the work is not financial wise. You would be better of taking one of the many “Community Use” spaces in the new condo’s cropping up all around the neighborhood. “Community Use” is Doctors offices, Educational schools, child care etc.
As for the Yoga Studios that is probably not a legal use unless it is in a commercial building; not one of the residential house.

RobertGMarvin

in General Discussion 6 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "2"
object(WP_User)#4929 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4938 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "779"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "RobertGMarvin"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "RobertGMarvin"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(40) "64df18426207ddf12f1789eba7eabd04a9c3f615"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2007-08-10 18:03:45"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "Bob Marvin"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(779)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(0) {
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

This is complicated. Note that not all of the PLG Historic District are in the single family Lefferts Manor and the greater part of the neighborhood is outside of the HD (even though that’s fairly large, as well as out two additional small HDs. The north side of Lincoln II and Lefferts and Sterling II and III are in the HD, but outside the “Manor”. Within LM there are regulations having to do with the single-family restrictive covenant and the R2 zoning.. I’m pretty sure you’d be OK within the Manor as long as you’re reasonably circumspect, don’t disturb your neighbors, and keep any signage to a minimum.

JohnHancock | 6 years and 9 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4935 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4934 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "22067"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "JohnHancock"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bw9EUIInWUWur5HPQmiuDek2VIWsxp1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "JohnHancock"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "steefv@hotmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2008-12-17 12:39:58"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "JohnHancock"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(22067)
  ["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 believe your taxes, insurance are a lot higher with a commercial floor in your house