The Return of the Rooming Houses?
A neighborhood in Harlem expressed concern to The New York Times over developer Gerald Migdol’s attempt to convert an 18-foot-wide brick row house back into a rooming house. The neighbors are worried that the conversion of 228 West 132nd Street will decrease the quality of the neighborhood. Mr. Migdol told the Times that the conversion,…
A neighborhood in Harlem expressed concern to The New York Times over developer Gerald Migdol’s attempt to convert an 18-foot-wide brick row house back into a rooming house. The neighbors are worried that the conversion of 228 West 132nd Street will decrease the quality of the neighborhood. Mr. Migdol told the Times that the conversion, which will have nine single rooms with bathrooms, two two-bedroom apartments, and a communal kitchen, is legal: even though the city forbids new rooming houses, it allows an owner to restore previous rooming-house units, as is the case at 228. Has anyone heard of this happening in Brooklyn? We’ve seen luxury condo developments here in Brooklyn go rental instead of keeping units on the market and there’s lots of talk about turning other failed luxury condo projects into affordable housing, but has anyone heard of conversions back to rooming houses?
Rooming House Returns [NY Times]
229 North 8th Goes Rental [Brownstoner]
Does anyone know which source to use to track buildings with existing as of rights for SRO’s? I initially thought of DHCR, but they suggested the building department. Any thoughts?
I stand by my “luxury” rant… and I’m not gonna live in an SRO. Even if it’s a luxury SRO.
If NYC was once “affordable” why would there be so many SRO’s?
because NYC has always been expensive for at least someone.
also getting made at the word “luxury” is silly. Its adverting and has been done forever.
There’s a ton of ‘SRO’s aka bed and breakfasts in Harlem directed at tourists, especially the French. Someone asked me the other day if one was ‘safe’, it was on a French apt exchange website for $35/night. You want safe for $35?
ditto, I’d catch hell from “you know who” if I did. 🙂
Kudos on your “luxury” rant Tyb. With decent 1br/studios under a $1000 in rent stabilized NYC harder to get. I think that SRO’S are a good option to explore, as long as they’re regulated correctly.
It would relieve pressure on rentals, especially 2+ bedrooms. Apts. priced for shares have made family renting in NYC very unaffordable. A $1600 2br in Crown Heights/Flatbush or a $3000 2br. in North Slope maybe a good deal for shares not for a family but it’s for shares LL’s price them for.
Yes, in the past SRO’S conjured up images of the City’s “less fortunate” but actually – the occupants were mostly single WORKING men. The city was different then: before the days of background/credit checks and affordable rents, now the typical SRO tenant most likely may be young professionals, students, artists, and people new to the city. It’s worth exploring.
DIBS, I’m so glad you spell it toney and not tony.
DH, its not offenisive. As a lawyer I’d be horrified if everyone I knew and lived around me were lawyers. Thats the last thing I’d want!
Rob’s 9:34 sums it up pretty well. Things like SROs are needed to prevent NYC from becoming a dormitory for investment bankers, hedge fund managers and lawyers (sorry, I realize I probably just offended 99% of brownstoner readers)