So, Your Building is Older Than Your Grandma's Knitting Needles?
Let's talk about the age-old question that keeps New Yorkers up at night (right after "How do I fit a king-sized bed into this closet?"): When was my building built? It's like trying to figure out if your great-grandparents were dinosaurs or just really old hippies.
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| When Was My Building Built Nyc |
Is Your Building a Fossil?
You've probably heard the phrase "old as the hills". Well, your building might just be older than some of those hills. If it's got creaky floors that sound like a haunted house, walls that are thicker than your ego, and a bathtub so deep you could probably swim laps in it, chances are it's seen more than a few generations of New Yorkers come and go.
QuickTip: The more attention, the more retention.
Let's Get Down to Business (or Rather, Building Business)
Now, if you're actually serious about finding out when your building was erected, you'll need to do some detective work. Here are your main suspects:
Tip: Every word counts — don’t skip too much.
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- The Department of Buildings (DOB): These are the folks who keep tabs on all the buildings in the city. They've got records going back decades. Think of them as the building genealogists.
- The Municipal Archives: This place is like a time capsule for NYC. If the DOB doesn't have the answers, the archives might. Just be prepared to spend some quality time with dusty old documents.
- Your Building's Super: Sometimes, the oldest inhabitant of a building is the one who's been taking care of it the longest. Your super might have a wealth of knowledge about the building's history. Just be ready for a long, rambling story about the time they caught a raccoon in the basement.
How to Crack the Building Code
Once you've got your detective hat on, it's time to start digging for clues. Here are a few tips:
Tip: Don’t just scroll to the end — the middle counts too.
- Look for clues in the building: Check out architectural details, the style of the building, and any old newspapers or documents you can find.
- Talk to your neighbors: Someone probably knows an old-timer who has lived in the building forever and can spill the beans.
- Use online resources: There are websites and databases that can help you find information about your building.
Remember: Uncovering your building's age can be a fun adventure. But if you find out it's older than you thought, don't blame me for the nightmares about ghosts.
QuickTip: Skip distractions — focus on the words.
How-to FAQs
- How to find the DOB records for your building: Visit the NYC Department of Buildings website and use the Building Information System (BIS) to search for your building's address.
- How to access the Municipal Archives: Contact the NYC Municipal Archives to inquire about building records and how to access them.
- How to talk to your building super: Simply start a friendly conversation and casually ask about the building's history.
- How to use online resources: Search for "NYC building records" or similar keywords to find relevant websites and databases.
- How to deal with potential ghosts: Invest in a good nightlight and a really loud alarm clock.
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