Finding Architects for Brownstone extension

Hello, I am an architect with experience on townhouse renovations on the Upper West Side. Please feel free to contact me directly to discuss the details of your project: richard@manhatta.net

Try Johann Grobler. He has experience with brownstones, though I think more in Brooklyn, but has also worked on the UWS. http://www.groblerarchitects.com/index.html

Azoe,

Email me at primerenovations@mac.com and i will give you a great architect

Jeff

I am a licensed architect a good deal of experience working on projects on the Upper West Side. Please feel free to contact me directly to discuss the details of you proposed renovation.
Regards,
Richard
richard@manhatta.net

If you send me the address, 75% chance I can tell you if it's possible in terms of zoning. You are on first floor so horizontal extension I guess. If you can, it's most likely gonna be a few feet, depends on the depth of your rear yard, not sure if it's worth it, you probably will need to pour new foundation.

You will need to get the owners in the rest of the building to go along with you. It's just for you but you'll be doing demolition, roofing, structural work, which effects the entire building, and increasing the common element of the building. You can expect they will want you to pay more maintenance for it also. Your neighbor upstairs will be getting himself a terrace on top of your extension so maybe he'll chip in.

I'm very much dependent on my neighbors buying in and sharing the process but I want to do my homework first and thought the first step is meeting with an architect and seeing if my ideas are possible. I will take on the project management of the process. The building currently has a bump out so there is a logical place to extend out (horizontally not vertically) and by building out to be adjacent to the adjoining wall it would be 13 feet by 9 feet so I think its significant in terms of gaining space in New York City. My neighbor on the third floor is interested so we are doing our homework before seeing if the second floor is interested as well.

Karhu - are you able to help me figuring out if I have FAR? I have looked it up and think its promising but can't be sure. Karhu can you email me on alisoniazoe@yahoo.com. I would love to hear if you can help me figure out FAR (I assume that's what you are referring to with zoning).

It's not just available, if you have a 100' lot in most residential zones (I'm assuming brownstone Manhattan/Bk), then you have to leave 30' of the rear yard clear. Your existing extension may predate that zoning rule, and may be grandfathered in - which means that you may not be able to just bump out your current extension. Also, look into getting an attached "greenhouse", I'm not sure if this is included in that 30' clearance.

Typo - available FAR.