I think Ralph is correct. These bldg plans were probably in accordance with
zoning, as I recall there is the Old Tenement Law, New-Old Tenement Law and
New Tenement Law but can not recall the years they were active.



Eric Hammarberg
Associate Director of Preservation
Associate
LZA Technology
641 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10011-2014
Telephone: 917.661.8160 (Direct)
Mobile: 917.439.3537
Fax: 917.661.8161 (Direct)
email:  [log in to unmask]



-----Original Message-----
From: Ralph Walter [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, August 28, 2002 5:45 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: "no well holes"


In a message dated 8/28/02 4:12:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:




Dear Yukon Guy:  I just visited the building today (really cool, will report
later).  Neat idea, but the 10 story stairway is indeed open, all the way to
the top.
The Perfect Flue!

Sign me,  Who Remembers Our Discussion of Glacier Glass in 1998?






I think whoever it was was right about the n.w.h referring to a design
without light wells (which is to say, proviiding windows on the aides
withour a dumbbell tenement plan).  I can't see sophisticated NYers giving a
damn about well holes as sources of water, and can't imagine that open
stairwells were on anybody's radar screens as a fire danger back then.

When we inspected the bldg that collapsed in Harlem a ffew years back, it
had a weird-shaped plan which seems to me was rather E-shaped, but which
also had well-holes along the property lines.

Ralph

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