The amount of information an owner, agent, or engineer/architect may need to know about a building can be extensive. Fortunately a number of websites and online databases makes it much easier to find property data than it was just a few years ago.
For instance, to find a building's block and lot number you once had to leaf though pages and pages of the huge Sanborn Maps. Now that information and a lot more is just a click away.
One of the more popular online database is Buildings Information System, developed and maintained by the New York City Department of Buildings. At any given moment in Rand's office a staff member is likely checking BIS to gather information for one of our projects. Block and lot is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg in BIS. I check the site regularly to confirm the status of my projects' permit applications, previous Local Law 11/98 filings, and Certificates of Occupancy, among other things. The beauty of BIS is that it's public information available to anyone; you don't need to be an engineer or architect to use it. The website is not particularly intuitive, however, so if you're using it for the first time, check out the Frequently Asked Questions and the glossary.
Another database I find helpful is HPD Building Info, maintained by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. The site lists property owner and registration, open violations, complaints, charges and fees, pending litigation, and lots of other information.
OASIS is an interactive map that offers a wide variety of data including zoning and landmarks, roads and transit, parks, and land use.
NYC OASIS (Open Accessible Space Information System), an interactive map developed and maintained by the Center for Urban Research at the CUNY Graduate Center, offers a wide variety of useful data, including zoning and landmarks; roads and public transportation lines; parks, playgrounds, and open spaces; environmental characteristics and land use; and retail food stores and green markets. You can search by building address, block and lot, Zip Code, neighborhood, community district, and county or borough. A tutorial on the site has short videos to show how to use the map's features.
I also use the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Bulk Storage Database to confirm the registration, expiration, equipment specifications and tank testing requirements for petroleum bulk storage units (i.e., oil tanks). Searching by a property's 7-digit site number is easier than by building address, which can involve trial and error.
If you have used any of the above sites and have comments or suggestions, or if you know of other useful building information sites or databases, please let us know in the box below. There is a wealth of data out there about New York City properties and accessing it has never been easier.
