94-36 114 Street in Queens. Image Credit: CityLand.

Owner converted cellar into additional living space for his family. Mana Masih owns a two story residence with a cellar at 94-36 114 Street in Queens. The owner converted the cellar level into an additional dwelling unit with three beds in the hall, a three- piece bathroom, a kitchen with a residential sink and gas stove. On November 17, 2015 an inspector from the Department of Buildings served a notice of violation charging that the building’s certificate of occupancy authorized only a two-family residence with dwelling units on the first and second floors. An additional violation charged that the conversation of the cellar was done without a Buildings permit. The hearing officer found the owner offered insufficient evidence to refute the violations and imposed fines for each violation totaling $2,800. (more…)

Council Member Gentile holds rally on new illegal conversation bill. Image Credit: Council Member Gentile’s Office.

Proposal imposes steep fines on bad actors, and helps Buildings inspectors gain premises access. On June 21, 2016, New York City Council Members Vincent J. Gentile, Jumaane D. Williams, and Barry S. Grodenchik introduced legislation that would impose high penalties on bad actor landlords and equip the Department of Buildings with means to gain entry into suspected illegal conversion sites. This bill was developed with the support of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, after a November 2014 fire in an illegal unit above a Flatbush church killed an individual and injured 16 others, destroying the building. (more…)