by Nena Perry-Brown on Urban Turf
While many DC homeowners have been exploring creating accessory dwellings in their backyards in light of new zoning regulations, this potential development would add a whole house to what is currently a backyard.
The owner of 2853 Belair Place NE (map) in Langdon has applied to subdivide their property in order to build a second single-family home at the site. The application (Case# 19843) cites a 5,000 square-foot allowable lot area in the R-1-B zone, where the house is located; however, the existing two-story house sits on a single 10,842 square-foot lot.
If subdivided, the existing house would be on a 5,000 square-foot lot and expanded into a five-bedroom, four-bathroom; the new rear lot would be 5,842.5 square feet, including a driveway alongside the front house.
The newly-constructed home at the rear would be a five-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom across two stories and a basement. The plan would also require a variance from the lot frontage requirements. ADG+G Architecture furnished the designs. A zoning hearing has not yet been scheduled.
In light of DC Policy Center's report earlier this year, which called upon single-family home zones to pull their weight in increasing the citywide housing supply, the above development could serve as an example for homeowners on oversized lots west of Rock Creek Park.
