C O P Y

                            THE CITY OF NEW YORK
                 HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION      Multiple Dwellings
                         DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS             Combining Apartments

DEPARTMENTAL MEMORANDUM                    DATE:  Feb. 24, 1969

TO:  Borough Superintendents

FROM:  Thomas V. Burke
      Director of Operations

SUJECT:  Combining Apartments to Create Larger Residential Units


     The procedures for combining apartments described in a memorandum issued
on June 23, 1967 is superseded by this memorandum which is a result of the
approval of Local Law 77 by Mayor John V. Lindsay.  This law became effective
November 27, 1968.  A Copy of Local Law 77 is attached.

     The New York city Charter is amended so as to eliminate the necessity 
of obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy where the alteration consists of 
combining two or more apartments to create larger residential units resulting 
in a decrease in the total legal number of families within the building.  A 
Building Notice Application must be filed in the office of the Borough Super-
intendent, together with plans showing the floors to be altered.  The 
examination of the plans will be limited to the apartments being altered. The 
examination of plans are to be expedited as per Directive No. 9 of September 10,
1968 Item I paragraph (1).

     The new standards will govern for the purpose whether in old law 
or in new law tenements:

     a)  Enlargement of existing legal rooms will not be required.
         Small rooms may be eliminated.

     b)  Rooms used for living purposes should have a window, skylight, 
         or alcove opening in conformance with Multiple Dwelling Law
         Section 213 (5).

     c)  Existing water closets, bathtubs and washbasins may be retained.

     d)  Existing bathtubs may be enclosed to create bath compartments,
         ventilated by a fixed louvre to an adjoining room or water closet
         compartment or by a lower than ceiling-high partition adjoining
         the water closet compartment.  The bath compartment will not be
         deemed to reduce the size of the room if the room still has a 
         minimum area of 70 square feet and a minimum dimension of seven 
         feet, except than in an old law tenement the minimum width may 
         be six feet.

     e)  The stove and refrigerator in the second kitchen must be removed
         to make the extra kitchen facilities inoperable.  Connection
         must be properly capped.

     f)  Existing legal double rung fire escapes are acceptable provided
         all existing fire excapes are retained.

     The Borough Offies will issue a letter of completion to the owner when the
work is completed, permitting the altered apartment to be reoccupied.


                                              (Signed)
                                       ________________________
                                          Thomas V. Burke
                                       Director of Operations