New York City has many different type of housing units one remnant from the early to mid twentieth century is the SRO unit.
In New York City, the term SRO (Single Room Occupancy) describes small rooming units, often in older buildings, where tenants get a private room with a sink and stove, sharing bathrooms in the public hallway of the building. SROs are governed by the Multiple Dwelling Law Section §248.
I am Jorge Fontan, an architect in New York and owner of Vinculum Architecture, a Manhattan-based architecture firm. At Vinculum we work on a variety of project types, including Converting SROs to Class A apartments. In this article, I will explain what is an SRO and what you need to make alterations to SRO buildings.
Single Room Occupancy
SRO (Single Room Occupancy) are typically a very small, low-cost housing unit, essentially one room in a building, where tenants typically share communal bathroom facilities with others on their floor or in the building. Current regulations do not allow for the creation of new SRO units but it is allowable to preserve previously legally grandfathered SROs.
SRO Characteristics:
- Unit Size & Amenities: An SRO is a single room, sometimes furnished, with minimal features like a sink, sometimes a microwave, mini-fridge, a small range for cooking, but lacking a full private kitchen or bathroom, which is typically shared.
- Shared Facilities: The defining feature is shared amenities, resembling dormitory living, with bathrooms located in common areas.
Historical Context & Legal Status in NYC
- Past Prevalence: SROs were once abundant, a common form of affordable housing in NYC’s history.
- Decline & Ban: In the latter half of the 20th century, they were associated with poverty and overcrowding, leading to laws banning new SRO construction and discouraging operations, causing many to be converted.
- “Grandfathered” Status: Current NYC law prohibits creating new SROs but allows for the maintenance of existing ones, giving them a unique, protected legal status (typically as Class B Multiple Dwellings).
Certificate of Occupancy and Naming
There are various terms used for these types of residences whether both formal and informal.
- Single Room Occupancy
- Rooming Houses, Rooming Units: A term often used on Certificates of Occupancy to describe SROs especially in converted Townhouses and Brownstones.
- Furnished Rooms or Furnished Rooming House: Commonly used on certificates of Occupancy to identify SRO units.
In essence, an NYC SRO is a small room offering minimal independence but maximum affordability, a legal relic from a different era of housing, now caught between being a vital low-cost option and a politically charged housing type
Converting SROs
There is a common trend to convert SROs properties to one and two family homes or multifamily Class A dwelling units.
Thank You for Reading Our Article on The Differences Between Rezonings and Zoning Variances in NYC
I hope this was helpful. If you would like to speak with an architect about a potential project, please get in touch with us directly at Vinculum Architecture.
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This post was written by Jorge Fontan AIA a Registered Architect and owner of New York City based architecture firm Vinculum Architecture. Jorge Fontan has earned 3 degrees in the study of architecture including two degrees from the City University of New York and a Masters Degree in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University. Jorge has a background in construction and has been practicing architecture for 20 years where he has designed renovations and new developments of various building types.
