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Old 07-21-2017, 06:44 PM
 
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Hi,

I have a five unit brownstone building with a parlor floor duplex. There is an internal staircase going down into a basement. The basement is ceiling is low, 6'4" maybe, but it has exits into the garden, out into the front of the basement where the boiler and electric meters are, and upstairs into the parlor floor. It overlooks a lovely garden and is a delightful space. However, the building is built on a hill and the front of the building is 2/3 below the ground level, but more than 2/3 above ground level in the back where the basement part is. I'd really like to subdivide the basement into two bedrooms - both would have windows looking out onto the garden but I'm told this might be illegal. I cannot get a definite answer on this. Anyone know anything about this?

Thanks!
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Old 07-21-2017, 07:21 PM
 
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yep illegal regardless of height.
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Old 07-23-2017, 09:46 AM
 
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Hi Hollowplayer. I actually just had my manager measure it. It's 7 foot exactly. Why would it be illegal regardless of the height?
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Old 07-23-2017, 12:38 PM
 
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it dont matter, basements or cellars are illegal in nyc. If you want to make it legal you havve to pay more property tax.
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Old 07-23-2017, 12:59 PM
 
Location: Between the Bays
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hollowplayer2 View Post
it dont matter, basements or cellars are illegal in nyc. If you want to make it legal you havve to pay more property tax.
But with the front of the building only 1/3 above grade, not sure the option to legally convert is possible.
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Old 07-23-2017, 07:05 PM
 
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Thanks for the responses. There's no way to get the city to measure the grade from the room that the bedrooms would actually be in? The bedrooms would be facing the garden and the building is more than 2/3 above grade on that side. It's crazy that they'd be measuring it in the front where the boiler is and not the bedrooms. Thanks again!
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Old 07-23-2017, 07:06 PM
 
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But my understanding is if the ceiling is at least 7 foot, and you have two means of egress, and the cellar is more than 2/3 above grade you can have a legal bedroom. The question is where do they measure they grade. In the front or on the back where the bedrooms are. Thanks!

Last edited by EBDweller; 07-23-2017 at 07:37 PM..
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Old 07-23-2017, 07:42 PM
 
402 posts, read 518,530 times
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What happens if he or she puts up temporary walls to make the bedrooms- still illegal?
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