Tips for Avoiding Illegally Converted Apartments

Choosing safe and legal living conditions in New York can be tough if you don't know the kind of requirements to look for. To ensure both the safety of yourself and your family, use these tips below for eyeing an illegally converted apartment:

• Educate yourself on market prices. Rent that seems too low for the area in which the building resides could be illegal. 
• Look for certain keywords in postings. "Basement," "attic" and "flex" are all red-flags for conditions that would not provide adequate exit options. "Utilities included" may also be a sign that the landlord does not want another name connected to the property for maximum occupancy reasons. 
• If the address is not disclosed on the listing or mail can not be delivered directly, the landlord is likely afraid to expose the exact location due to illegal features involved. 
• Never rent a room with very small windows or locked doors. Residents should have access to efficient light, escape options, and all available exits. 

As always, New Yorkers are encouraged to call 311 if they become aware of unsafe construction conditions. 

Alan Margolin & Associates has been proving engineering services to the New York area for over 30 years. Focusing our craft on special inspection, we are experts in the New York City Department of Buildings' requirements and ensure all construction is built properly and to code. 

Our IAS accreditation is proof that we operate at the highest level of ethical, legal and technical standards. Visit our website for more information on our credentials and a complete list of services we provide. 

Keep up with the latest industry news and New York City happenings by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and connecting with us on Google+.

An "Urban Bowl" Penn Station?

Plans for a new Penn Station are in the works but it does require some negotiating with the long standing Madison Square Garden. NYC architects and city planners hope to reveal a drastically improved Penn Station by 2023 which, in recent years, has been an extremely overcrowded transit hub. 

To make this dream a reality, "the Garden would need to relocate to the Morgan postal facility between 28th and 31st streets and Ninth and Tenth avenues." Solutions that do not require the removal of the Garden from its current location are also in the works but sources of funding still need to be discussed. 

For more on the potential transformation of Penn Station visit ny.curbed.com. 

Alan Margolin and Associates is your New York City special inspection agency. For a complete list of services we provide to support a bigger, brighter and safer metropolitan area, visit our website. 

Keep up with the latest industry news and New York City happenings by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and connecting with us on Google+.

Homeowner and Tenant Tips for Winterizing

While we ensure your building is built properly and to code, there is also plenty you can do to help yourself and your safety - especially during these colder months. If you are an NYC homeowner or tenant, here are a few things you can do (or talk to your landlord about doing) in order to winterize your home:

• Weatherproof doors and windows to prevent heat loss.
• Check your attic for proper insulation or have better insulation installed.
• Schedule your routine heating system maintenance. Clean and/or replace filters. 
• Keep space heaters away from flammable items and never leave the house or apartment with one left on. 
• Remove snow and rainwater form roofs and drains regularly to prevent the formation of leaks. 
• Shut valves to outdoor water pipes and properly insulate all other pipes to prevent freezing and/or bursting. 

AM & Associates is proud to deliver quick and quality service to all of our clients. With over 30 years of experience or certified inspectors, architects and engineers help bring safe and unique construction to New York and the surrounding metropolitan area. 

Keep up with the latest industry news and New York City happenings by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and connecting with us on Google+.

Luxury Apartments Have NYC Construction Booming

Have you noticed the surge in luxury residential development? It certainly has NYC construction booming and Alan Margolin and Associates is keeping tabs.

According to the New York Building Congress, spend on construction in 2014 will total to be 17% more than the previous year – marking a post-recession rebound.

There is one concern, however. Little to no investment is being made in affordable units for moderate and low-income New Yorkers. For wealthy buyers, on the other hand, the New York housing market is about to get much bigger.

For more on this story, visit NY Daily News.

AM & Associates is your source for special inspection and related services in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more.

Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.

Trinity Church Set to Expand

More residential buildings are on the rise and this time it is happening on the Trinity Church's 2 million dollar property. 

Along with a 444 seat public school and a 1 million-square-foot development at 4 Hudson Square, Trinity Real Estate (church's property arm) is now looking for a partner to undergo this 430-foot-tall, 300,000-square-foot residential building in Hudson Square. 

For more on these new developments in planning, click here. 

Alan Margolin & Associates has been proving engineering services to the New York area for over 30 years. Focusing our craft on special inspection, we are experts in the New York City Department of Buildings' requirements and ensure all construction is built properly and to code. 

Our IAS accreditation is proof that we operate at the highest level of ethical, legal and technical standards. Visit our website for more information on our credentials and a complete list of services we provide. 

Keep up with the latest industry news and New York City happenings by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and connecting with us on Google+.

Landmark Colony - Bringing Life Back to the Farm

Remember the 45-acres of abandon farm land on Staten Island? It is finally being brought back to life! Once known as the New York City Farm Colony, this land is being transformed into 350 units of senior housing by NFC Associates, backed by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. 

Vacant for more than 40 years, this land will soon be referred to as Landmark Colony. Changes to the old buildings are being made with an effort to avoid generic designs and contain a bucolic feel in the mist of a city. 

For more details on the redevelopment, click here. 

Alan Margolin & Associates has been proving engineering services to the New York area for over 30 years. Focusing our craft on special inspection, we are experts in the New York City Department of Buildings' requirements and ensure all construction is built properly and to code. 

Our IAS accreditation is proof that we operate at the highest level of ethical, legal and technical standards. Visit our website for more information on our credentials and a complete list of services we provide. 

Keep up with the latest industry news and New York City happenings by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and connecting with us on Google+.

One World Trade Center - The Doors Have Opened

One World Trade Center is finally open and the tenants are quickly building! With extremely high ceilings and colorful wall art, the lobby features the Conde Nast signature straight across from it's revolving doors. 

Only 42% of the building is left to lease. Conde Nast, China Center New York LCC, Servcorp and Westfield LLC are just some of the companies that will immediately reside in this new and beloved landmark. 

For more on the grande opening of this monumental NYC infrastructure, click here. 

Alan Margolin & Associates has been proving engineering services to the New York area for over 30 years. Focusing our craft on special inspection, we are experts in the New York City Department of Buildings' requirements and ensure all construction is built properly and to code. 

Our IAS accreditation is proof that we operate at the highest level of ethical, legal and technical standards. Visit our website for more information on our credentials and a complete list of services we provide. 

Keep up with the latest industry news and New York City happenings by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, and connecting with us on Google+.