This new construction down Tehama looks a little close to the two buildings its sandwiching, no? How exactly are the people at 40 Tehama gonna be able to see out their windows (on right) when this thing gets taller then its current one story? We don't know exactly how someone is allowed to build like this... what do you think?Friday, June 22, 2007
Too Close for Comfort
This new construction down Tehama looks a little close to the two buildings its sandwiching, no? How exactly are the people at 40 Tehama gonna be able to see out their windows (on right) when this thing gets taller then its current one story? We don't know exactly how someone is allowed to build like this... what do you think?
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I don't really know the laws on this topic that well but from my understanding usually buildings with side windows are set back a few feet from the end of the lot so that stuff like this can't happen. That fact that the building didn't do that kind of gives them no recourse. I looked into this since my house is semi attached but has no windows on it side and takes up the entire width of the lot. What i was told by an architect was that it was illegal for me to put in regular windows on the side of the house. Of course that wouldn't be much of a comfort to me if i was one of the tenants of that building.
The new development has already bricked over the ground floor windows of the apartment building. You would think that seventy plus years would establish some sort of right to light, but apparently not in New York. Unless a building or neighborhood attracts the attention of the Landmarks Commission, no sensible community sensitive planning is likely to happen, let alone be legally mandated. The environment of the average resident of NY is not protected by the present planning regulations.
Those are lot line windows, and are illegal. The developer of this building has the right to build smack dab against the existing building. It's something you must know and ask before purchasing/renting.
Interesting feedback. I had no idea there was such a thing as "lot line windows".
There isn't anything wrong or illegal with lot line windows per se. The building code requires lot line windows to be fire rated if one wants to put one in. The most important thing to remember is that lot-to-lot you must not allow fire to pass from building to building, or lot to building. If you have a non rated window, a fire could easily pass through it. BTW, the walls have to be fire rated too. It is important to remember the main principle of the building department is to protect life and property (and not neccessarily in that order!).
If someone is upset about having their lot line windows covered up, then they were unfortunately unaware of the right the neighbor has the right to build to the property line and block a window.
yup. that's why rooms that only have lot line windows can't be designated as bedrooms or marketed as such by developers/landlords.
Owner of this blog needs to read curbed more. Lot line windows come up a lot there.
I've got one of those bricked in lot line windows, and yes we were warned in the offering (prospectus) about it. I never expected the orthodox Jewish synagogue that was there to be demolished though, especially not by other orthodox...
They're building 2 surprisingly narrow buildings on the lot with terraces front and back. The builder has said that it will look just like the development across the street - which as you can imagine has not exactly been feature in Architecture today.
Maybe they'll use the same paint on the balconies that rusts out in a couple of years, and neglect to plan for a space for garbage collection so that the yard can be strewn with bags and stray cans. They will most likely be planting a dirt garden as well.
Funny thing though - they've just started building a window into the airspace that they are walling in - maybe we'll build a decorative wall in front of it.
hahahah. Really though, Dan. Spot on.
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