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<\/p>\nThe renovation, completed in anticipation of NYC\u2019s new ADU laws, shows that the borough\u2019s many disused backyard units are full of potential.<\/p>\n
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According to John Patrick Cunningham, building in New York is a lot like filing your taxes. “It’s like, \u2018What can you write off as an expense?\u2019” says the Brooklyn architect. “There’s a lot of gray area about what you can do and if people will give you a fuss about it.” Combing through complicated codes, sleuthing for loopholes, and maximizing your returns are par for the course. “It\u2019s always a negotiation,” he adds. This approach was particularly relevant for a recent project of his, the conversion of a dilapidated backyard shed in Queens into a serene indoor\/outdoor “living annex.”<\/p>\n
In Forest Hills, Queens, architect John Patrick Cunningham renovated a crumbling garage into a 350-square-foot indoor\/outdoor <\/p>\n Small garages that have fallen into disrepair stand behind many single-family homes in Queens because it\u2019s challenging to renovate them. Many are no longer in compliance with setbacks, which presents a problem: they\u2019re crumbling, but if you tear them down, you can\u2019t build something new to replace them. Meanwhile, the driveways leading to them are too narrow to drive down. So many become storage sheds.<\/p>\n In 2024, New York City legalized the construction of ADUs<\/a> across the five boroughs, allowing homeowners of single- and two-family homes to convert attics, cellars, basements, and free-standing or adjacent buildings into an ADU. While the law hadn\u2019t yet passed when Cunningham began working with a family in Queens, they were aware of the potential policy change. They came to him in early 2024 with a 350-square-foot backyard shed with a caved-in roof and a $100,000 budget to renovate it. The Forest Hills residents sought a space that could flex between home office and a craft\/playroom for their two children, and make their backyard more livable.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s Note: General contractor fees are included in costs.<\/p>\n $5,000 $10,000 $9,000 $6,000 $5,000 $5,500 $6,500 $4,000 $4,000 $13,200 $6,000 $20,000 $15,500 $3,500 $1,964 $11,757.50 $11,000 Grand Total:\u00a0$137,921.50<\/p>\n Cunningham\u2019s clients sought a true indoor\/outdoor space so he installed two sets of glass doors from Gamco that the family can swing wide open.<\/p>\n![\"In](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/50764d36d734ade5684d88f41249495b.jpeg\"\/)
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Interior Framing & Insulation<\/p>\n
Roof Framing & Insulation<\/p>\n
Structural Reinforcement of Existing CMU Wall<\/p>\n
CMU Storage Addition in Rear<\/p>\n
Exterior Siding and Soffits<\/p>\n
Wall Finishes<\/p>\n
Flooring<\/p>\n
Roofing – Architectural Asphalt Shingles<\/p>\n
Roofing- Gutters<\/p>\n
Electrical and Lighting<\/p>\n
Landscaping – Sod<\/p>\n
Landscaping – Paving<\/p>\n
Windows & Exterior Doors<\/p>\n
Interior Doors<\/p>\n
Permitting<\/p>\n
Architect\/Design Fee<\/p>\n
Demolition & Waste \/ Debris Removal<\/p>\n![\"Cunningham\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1fee26d9324779d501e0a9d8ef96fb68.jpeg\"\/)
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