Landlord Converted Basement Space from Doctor's Office to Construction Office

DOB issued a violation notice to landlord for changing the use of the building so that it wasn't consistent with its C of O. A doctor's office in the basement had been converted into a construction office. Landlord claimed that there was no change in occupancy or use that was inconsistent with the C of O. The ALJ ruled against landlord and fined him $800. Landlord appealed and lost. Converting the basement from a doctor's office into a construction office was a change from one use group to another, and a new C of O was required.

Ostreicher: ECB App. No. 36588 (6/25/02) [2-pg. doc.]