Skills-for-architects nyc-bsa

Look up BSA variances and special permits for any NYC property.

install

source · Clone the upstream repo

git clone https://github.com/AlpacaLabsLLC/skills-for-architects

Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/

T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/AlpacaLabsLLC/skills-for-architects "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/plugins/00-due-diligence/skills/nyc-bsa" ~/.claude/skills/alpacalabsllc-skills-for-architects-nyc-bsa && rm -rf "$T"

manifest: plugins/00-due-diligence/skills/nyc-bsa/SKILL.md

source content

/nyc-bsa — BSA Variances & Special Permits

Look up Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) applications, variances, and special permits for any NYC property. Records available from 1998 to present. No API key required.

Usage

/nyc-bsa 120 Broadway, Manhattan
/nyc-bsa 1000770001          (BBL)
/nyc-bsa 1001389             (BIN)

Step 1: Parse Input

Accept one of:

Address + Borough/Zip — "120 Broadway, Manhattan" or "120 Broadway 10271"
BBL — 10-digit number (boro 1 + block 5 + lot 4)
BIN — 7-digit Building Identification Number

Borough codes: Manhattan=1/MN, Bronx=2/BX, Brooklyn=3/BK, Queens=4/QN, Staten Island=5/SI

Step 2: Resolve via PLUTO

Query PLUTO to get BBL, BIN, and building metadata. No API key needed.

By BBL:

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/resource/64uk-42ks.json?bbl={BBL}

By address:

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/resource/64uk-42ks.json?$where=upper(address) LIKE '%{STREET}%'&borough='{BORO_CODE}'&$limit=5

Address normalization: Uppercase, strip unit/apt suffixes. Borough names to codes: Manhattan=MN, Bronx=BX, Brooklyn=BK, Queens=QN, Staten Island=SI. If multiple results, ask the user to pick. If zero, try variations or suggest providing a BBL.

Store from PLUTO:

bbl

bin

(or

bldgbin

address

borough

bldgclass

zonedist1

yearbuilt

ownername

numfloors

lotarea

latitude

longitude

Parse BBL into: boro (1 digit), block (5 digits zero-padded), lot (4 digits zero-padded).

Step 3: Query BSA Applications

Query by BBL first:

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/resource/yvxd-uipr.json?$where=bbl='{BBL}'&$order=date DESC

If no results, try address fallback:

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/resource/yvxd-uipr.json?$where=upper(street_name) LIKE '%{STREET}%' AND borough='{BOROUGH}'&$order=date DESC

Key fields:

application

section

status

date

street_number

street_name

bbl

borough

decisions_url

project_description

Step 4: Print Results

## BSA Variances & Special Permits — {Address}

| Application # | Section | Status | Date | Description | Decisions |
|---------------|---------|--------|------|-------------|-----------|
| {application} | {section} | {status} | YYYY-MM-DD | {project_description} | {decisions_url} |

**Note:** Approved variances remain with the land. Check if conditions affect proposed work.

Source: [BSA Applications](https://data.cityofnewyork.us/City-Government/BSA-Applications-Status/yvxd-uipr)

If no applications found: "No BSA applications found for this property (records from 1998-present)."

Conventions

All dates: YYYY-MM-DD
If Socrata returns empty array: "No results found"
If HTTP error: note it and suggest checking the address
If the user requests, write results to a file