Apartment Combinations: How to Turn Two into One
In a cramped city like New York, where every square foot of space comes at a premium, homeowners often look for creative ways of expanding their living quarters. Which is why many condo and co-op owners jump at a chance to purchase a vacant apartment next door and combine it with their own.
But two separate apartments that share a wall don’t magically become one. Combining them is often a tricky process.
What’s behind door number one?
Ideally, prior to signing on the dotted line for the apartment next door, it is advisable to probe the wall between the two apartments. Any structural elements, utility risers, shafts or other unexpected surprises may radically limit the homeowner’s vision.
A client once came to us with two adjacent apartments and great ideas. But, upon review, we discovered a large elevator shaft be-tween the walls. Factoring this in — along with the building pipes that could not be relocated — they were left with a 42-inch-wide space between the foyer and a bedroom as the only means of con-necting the apartments. Workable, yes, but it certainly required adjusting their original plans.
