Landmarks and interior doors of a Brownstone

We’re in the middle of getting our C of O. Converting our brownstone from a 1 family to a 3 family. Renovation requires that pocket doors be removed and replaced by fire doors. I remember a NY Times article back in 2003 or 2004 about an arcane rule that allowed these doors to remain in place. Even though Landmarks is generally concered with the exterior front, this was also came under their jurisdiction? Anyone have some insight or experience? Have I been sniffing the cleaning fuilds too much?

augiesasso

in Landmarks 13 years and 4 months ago

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m926bk | 13 years and 4 months ago

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If you’re in a historic district (or an individual landmark), in order to get a permit from the DOB, you’ll have to get a permit from the Landmarks Commission (LPC) first.  In general, they just review plans to make sure there is no impact on the exterior – that, for instance, you aren’t building a wall in front of a first-floor window – so they won’t comment at all about removing pocket doors.  In general, they also let “life safety” improvements trump preservation concerns.  That being said, I have seen old pocket doors at the hallway in an old brownstone that went from 1-family to 3-family.  It wasn’t the apartment’s primary entrance doors – I don’t know how they did it.

NeoGrec | 13 years and 4 months ago

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Yeah, like Deboer said. My understanding is that there are very few Brooklyn brownstones with landmarked interiors and if yours was one, you’d know about it!

jockdeboeraia | 13 years and 4 months ago

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Landmarks does not get involved unless the interior of the building is Landmarked or it is within 1′ of the front window. It does not sound like that is your situation. The fire door is requried as you are creating a fire rated exit passage.