Does anyone know an expert/authority on tenement buildings who might be able to talk sense into the Department of Buildings?
Yes, I know it is crazy talk to think anyone can talk sense into DOB. But here's the deal.
I live in an old law tenement building (built around 1875). It is one of three such buildings occupying a Street/Avenue corner and sharing a single residential entrance on the street side. Until 2005, there was a yard in the back. Tenement buildings are required to have yards.
In 2005, the owner built a "horizontal enlargement" occupying/replacing the entire courtyard. They justified this by (a) combining the three separate tax lots because (b) zoning allows 100% lot coverage on corner lots.
The results are identical to pre-law tenements built before there were any regulations requiring light or ventilation in tenement buildings. Such buildings, in the 19th century, either had to be altered to comply with new regulations or condemned. DOB essentially allowed my landlord to reverse engineer an illegal tenement building.
I and several of my fellow suffering tenants will be meeting again with DOB soon and we need someone with clout who can explain this to DOB in a way DOB will understand.
Thanks in advance for any tips.