Second door in apartment, really necessary?

There was a period in the 1920s when exit requirements were a lot more rigorous than they are now. E.g., two non-overlapping paths out of an apartment to separate staircases.

If you look at a building of the same vintage, e.g. http://streeteasy.com/building/215-west-75-street-new_york/floorplans, some second exits have been blocked and some haven't.

You should be OK with the city as long as you can still get to two staircases from your front door. If you ask the managing agent, they'll let you know what the building's permitted in other same-line apartments.

I would not care to live in a building in which the help dragged rubbish through the floor's reception area, and tradesmen came and went through there ... the milk man, ice man, drayman, laundress and porter should really use the service elevator and enter through the back door. Firemen, too.

So take half your stuff to Goodwill Industries or the local foundling hospital and you'll do just fine.

Thanks NWT. Just closed, so not even sure if there are 2 staircases. As for the managing agent, he said to check with the architect.