Mixed-use building management
Apartments upstairs, a storefront on the street, one team for the building.
Brooklyn · Queens · Long Island · Updated October 2026
Windsor Fine Properties manages mixed-use buildings, with apartments over retail, in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island. We manage both the commercial and the residential space: the storefront, the apartments upstairs and the shared building systems, and both kinds of tenant show up on one monthly statement.
What's specific about managing a mixed-use building?
- Two kinds of lease. Commercial leases are separate contracts that often set their own terms for repairs, signage, insurance and utilities. We follow the lease you have in place and keep track of its dates.
- Insurance. Storefront leases often require the tenant to carry its own insurance, and the building needs coverage that fits both uses.
- Shared systems, different uses. A restaurant or shop downstairs can mean more wear on plumbing, venting and trash areas. We schedule servicing with both uses in mind and keep residents informed when work affects them.
- The street front. The sidewalk, the storefront facade and the building entrance are the most visible parts of the property. We keep an eye on them on every visit.
- The apartments upstairs. Residential tenants get the same leasing, rent collection, repairs and 24/7 emergency line as in any building we manage.
Which rules commonly apply?
- Owners of ground-floor or second-floor storefront space in New York City may need to file an annual Storefront Registry statement with the Department of Finance. The requirements differ by tax class.
- Gas piping inspections under Local Law 152, by a Licensed Master Plumber at least every four years, apply to most mixed-use buildings. DOB exempts some small buildings, including one- and two-family homes with a store, so the building's classification matters.
- If there are three or more apartments, the building is a multiple dwelling for HPD purposes, with annual registration, window guard and lead paint notices, the December bed bug report and heat and hot water rules.
- Boiler inspection rules for mixed-use buildings differ from those for buildings used only for housing. We confirm what applies to your building with a licensed inspector.
- NYC owners are responsible for the sidewalk in front of the building, including repairs and clearing snow and ice within set times after a snowfall.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change, so confirm current requirements with the relevant agency or your attorney. Official sources are listed below.
Which Windsor services apply?
- Multifamily management: for the apartments upstairs
- Small multifamily management: full service for buildings of up to 19 units
- Rent collection: residential and storefront rent on one statement
- Repairs, maintenance & 24/7 emergency line: insured vendors for both uses
- NYC compliance support: filings, notices and inspections
- Insurance audit & procurement: coverage reviews for a building with two uses
Where do we work with these owners?
Brooklyn: buildings with storefronts along Fifth and Seventh Avenues in Park Slope, Fifth Avenue in South Slope, Third and Fifth Avenues in Bay Ridge, and the shopping streets of Bensonhurst, Kensington, Midwood and Sheepshead Bay.
Queens: mixed-use buildings in Astoria, Jackson Heights, Forest Hills and Bayside.
Long Island: village main streets in Nassau County and Suffolk County, such as Rockville Centre, Port Washington, Huntington and Northport.
Mixed-use buildings: frequently asked questions
Do you manage the commercial space too?
Yes. We manage the commercial space as well as the apartments. We collect the rent, handle the owner's repair responsibilities under the lease and coordinate access.
Do the apartments get the same service as a residential building?
Yes. Residential tenants get leasing, rent collection, repairs and our 24/7 emergency line, the same as any building we manage.
Does my building need to file the NYC Storefront Registry?
Many owners of ground- or second-floor storefront space do, and the rules differ by tax class. The Department of Finance's storefront registry page explains who must file.
Who handles the sidewalk and snow?
In New York City the owner is responsible for the sidewalk in front of the building. Some commercial leases shift snow clearing to the tenant. The lease should say who is responsible.
Do you manage mixed-use buildings on Long Island?
Yes. Nassau and Suffolk are part of our service area. Local requirements vary by town and village.
How do I get started?
Send us a message through our contact form or call (646) 762-9242 with the address, the number of apartments and what the storefront is used for.
Ready to talk about your property?
Tell us about the building and how it is used today, and we will set up a time to talk.
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