Reno project

Sorry for that densely packed list - bullet points didn't copy. But that's the gist: ~18 months and it's still between the architect, bldg management, etc. And maybe that's typical, idk.

MTH,

Sorry that your reno is taking so long.

Usually it takes 4-6 months for the approval process - 2 months for the architect to draw up plans with owner's fast revisions etc (owner doesn't make up mind easily could be 6 months), 2-4 months for coop approval if you aren't asking for wet over dry or penetrations etc, and 1 month for DOB approval.

It seems that your building just doesn't have electrical capacity and / or place to run upgraded wiring. If you used gas appliances, would your electrical capacity be large enough? I would think yes as with LED's etc, the load is less vs the past. And how much delay punishment are you willing to take to upgrade electric?

I assume that each apartment provides its own AC either window or through the wall. That is always the largest user of electricity in an apartment. If that is the case then every unit in the building needs the electrical upgrade to be done for the entire building.

I could live without the upgrade but I'd always be wondering: is my airfryer also going to fry the fusebox along with the chicken?

I don't know the details of how they're going to run the wiring. I assumed through the apartment below? We've been asked to hire an engineer to plot the how-to for submission so that's where we are.

Yes, every apartment has its own through-wall ac unit. We did a study of the entire building first, monitoring the building's draw from the street over a two week period. I assume, based on that, there would be enough for at least some of us to upgrade without compromising the whole system.

I know this all sounds whiney. I'm lucky to have the place.

"I assumed through the apartment below?"

From my mid-block position, I can see the back of a number of co-op buildings, and some of them are just covered in large conduits of various vintages that have been run up from the cellar to various floors to accommodate heavier wiring. Much of it doesn't look very organized, implying that units ran new cables from the service entrance in a piecemeal way, rather than the building doing it all at once.

This is crazy. No wonder rents are so high here.

@Aaron2 Interesting - the apt has through-wall a/c so running a line up the back or side of the building and in through the sleeve might make sense.

@Krolik this is my retirement perch but if it were my plan to recoup the cost of renovation through renting I'd have to charge something crazy for it to work. One thing I have learned on this board (nod to inonada): looked at in purely mercenary terms this is an awful idea.

They're proposing to go up the back of the building from the cellar, as you suggested @Aaron. They'd drill a new conduit through the exterior wall that would be sealed and firestopped. They seem to have spotted other feeders in the same location running to apartments above.

What would be a reasonable amount of time to wait until I remind mangaement? Tomorrow will be two weeks.

Well, if there are other such conduits in the building, management should be able to sign off on it fairly promptly, as there's clear precedent. Two weeks sounds like plenty.

There's a new person in charge with management - probably the grandchild of the original person handling the building at the rate we're moving. Hopefully the new one doesn't take after gramps in the promptitude dept.