A Zoning Variance is a special approval to develop a property in a manner that does not completely conform with the Zoning Regulations. Zoning Variances are typically issued when a property has a unique condition that causes a hardship on the owners ability to develop...
All buildings in NYC must comply with regulations of use and occupancy. When dealing with existing buildings one must determine the legal use of a building before making any alterations. The building's legal use must be verified before making a change to the use. Building Legal...
Most of our new clients at Fontan Architecture who are developing property are first time property developers. I highly recommend you do your homework and surround yourself with a competent team that will help you throughout the process. Here are a few things you should consider when...
Fire Damage Repair & Restoration When a building is damaged by fire you need to rebuild, but you need to rebuild in order to prevent future fire damage. Here are some tips of things to consider for your fire restoration job. Fire damage repair is not...
A Letter Of No Objection or LNO is a document used to verify the existing legal use of a property that does not have a certificate of occupancy defining its use. A Letter of No Objection is used in New York City for building built...
Small Zoning Lots in NYC are residential zoning lots where the area of the lot is less then the minimum required by code or where the width of the property is less then that required by code. If a residential property is a small zoning...
Sustainable Building Design Locate Near Transportation Promote Sustainable Transportation Physical and Mental Health Amenities Maximize Natural Light Appropriate Building Size Existing Buildings Rehabilitation Adaptive Reuse Renewable Energy Energy Recovery Energy Efficient Lighting Energy Efficient Heating and Air Conditioning Conserve Water Sustainable Materials Recycled Materials High...
People have called me many times asking "Can I replace my architect after we filed with DOB" and the answer is yes of course you can. As a property owner you have the right to fire your architect if you see fit. I would like...
Affordable Housing is a major issue in property development. In New York City the implementation of the Inclusionary housing Program has pushed affordable housing to the forefront of developers minds. Architecture Firms like ours are now spending more time on affordable housing and mixed income...
This post is going to be discussing the basics of R6A Zoning in New York City. R6A is a subdistrict of R6 Zoning, and is considered a contextual district. R6A Zoning R6A is a medium density residential zoning district. Similar to R6B Zoning, R6A is a contextual district....