I was trying to legalize a 600 SF ground level (not basement) apartment in a mixed use building. For more than half a century it was a rental apartment, but without the certificate of occupancy.

The only problem to legalize it was not enough parking and I didn’t received a permit to use it as apartment (it can be rented for about $2,000 a month as apartment).

It listed as a storage. To use it as a store, office or something else except storage will need a parking variance, which I don’t have.

Any ideas how to make this storage to make money?..

Some of my ideas was:

To install big refrigerators to store frozen food.

To make a show room and sell some items from Internet without hanging money.

To use it as a Micro Greens growing facility.

Any other ideas, please?!

We bought the building after tenants from the illegal apartment was evicted. Without this the seller was not able to sell it. Building inspector force to demolish a bathroom and a kitchen.

We apply for the parking variance with the plans from the architect and was not permitted to make it legal. The reason was that in 1957 it was declined too.

We already spent about $5,000 for all paperwork and don’t want to pay more, at least for now.

That’s why I was looking for some different ideas.

Turn to the green people. Transportation folks who offer deliveries via bicycle. Many of them operate with grants and as such, they know who to ask for assistance.

They will know the route to get an exception so that they can run their non profit out of your space.

You are in a situation where the city won't allow anything, but you can go through the very same city for the solution using these types of businesses.

Green City Force 646 681 4700 I don't know these folks, but they are just a phone call away.

Put in an overhead door and offer indoor, heated parking. Or run extra outlets and rent it to someone for a workshop. Maybe an independent contractor like a carpenter or plumber whose spouse wants the inventory out of their house.

I will think about storage for the tenants.

I don’t need extra storage for myself. We have a full basement at the same building.

Unfortunately I can’t make it a parking. It is an apartment above street level with normal size windows and an entrance door.