Headache narrow basement stairway

[Giginw]

Hi all,

I asked before about alternating stairway and turned out code wouldn't allow it as a mean of egress.

My architect said the only way we can avoid knocking down the basement foundation wall is to push the opening back, sacrificing kitchen space to make it super small (7'10"x3'), so the basement stairway will have enough space for 3ft landing, then one step down for the L shape turn.

The basement height is 7', if I make riser higher than 8", is it possible and comfortable enough to push back kitchen space less?

If I have to knock down the foundation wall (120 years old stone wall), would it be expensive to support that area?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Current plan:
https://ibb.co/VHkwQs0

Previous plan:
https://ibb.co/yB4h9zj

Range for comfortableness:
https://ibb.co/tBg9jsC

 

[Mr. Inspector]

Simply call it a crawlspace and not a basement then you can put in what you want. There is no definition for crawlspace in the code.

 

[Giginw]

Simply call it a crawlspace and not a basement then you can put in what you want. There is no definition for crawlspace in the code.

But I thought crawl space is filled with dirt and pipes? DOB approved three pieces of fixture in this cellar since I have two means of egress.

I thought it's a cellar as it's 3 ft above ground and 4 ft below ground. Even though because the house is sitting at a high point on the street, the cellar is technically above grade.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

I don’t know if New York has a definition for crawlspaces or cellars but the IRC does not.
IRC definitions:
[RB] BASEMENT. A story that is not a story above grade plane. (see “Story above grade plane”).
RB] STORY. That portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and the upper surface of the floor or roof next above.
[RB] STORY ABOVE GRADE PLANE. Any story having its finished floor surface entirely above grade plane, or in which the finished surface of the floor next above is either of the following:
1. More than 6 feet (1829 mm) above grade plane.
2. More than 12 feet (3658 mm) above the finished
ground level at any point.