topic Re: Not in My Neighborhood??? in Community Chat

Not in My Neighborhood???

straykatz — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:21:47 GMT

Should a couple be forced to tear down their modern under construction home because it is too modern for the neighborhood?

Modern home divides historic Southern neighborhood

http://www.pantagraph.com/print-specific/pantagraph/ragged-body/modern-home-divides-historic-southern-neighborhood/article_aa40bee1-3442-5be2-940f-4995d2356eb7.html

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

NoelSeven — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:27:03 GMT

I don't see how it can be torn down if it was approved by the planning commission.

There could be a giant legal suit if it was forced, and rightly so. It may not fit in the neighborhood, but the blame goes to those who approved it.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

brii — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:27:19 GMT

It should not be torn down.

If they had a problem with the design of the home, why did they approve it in the first place?

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

Emma bunting — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:33:14 GMT

Bottom line (to me, after reading the article) is that the couple gambled building the home while there was an appeal pending.

They might lose that gamble in the end and be forced to tear the home down.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

occasionalrain — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:36:35 GMT

On 5/1/2014 Emma bunting said:
Bottom line (to me, after reading the article) is that the couple gambled building the home while there was an appeal pending.

They might lose that gamble in the end and be forced to tear the home down.

That was my interpretation of the article. An architect should have known this house didn't fit in with the neighborhood and probably did. It's not even an attractive house.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

Marienkaefer2 — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:37:54 GMT

I agree with Emma hunting.

It always puzzles me why people choose a certain.neighborhood and then.want to do.things that go against the grain in that neighborhood.

If they wanted to.build a more modern type house, why not choose an area where that design is prevalent and will more likely be accepted?

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

brii — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:37:59 GMT

On 5/1/2014 Emma bunting said:
Bottom line (to me, after reading the article) is that the couple gambled building the home while there was an appeal pending.

They might lose that gamble in the end and be forced to tear the home down.

But the City advised them to proceed, citing the appeal as "procedural."

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

Emma bunting — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:39:25 GMT

On 5/1/2014 brii said:
On 5/1/2014 Emma bunting said:
Bottom line (to me, after reading the article) is that the couple gambled building the home while there was an appeal pending.

They might lose that gamble in the end and be forced to tear the home down.

But the City advised them to proceed, citing the appeal as "procedural."

That is what they are "saying"......I have a feeling they don't have this in writing, which could be problematic.

At any rate, if the appeal is upheld, I see a huge, drawn out lawsuit in the future.

ETA: just reread the article. The homeowners said that the town told them the appeal was "merely procedural".....but the town did not tell them to proceed with construction. That was their decision. And who knows if the town really said "merely". Someone could have told them it was procedural.....and they added the merely to make their case sound better. At any rate, it is obvious to me that they don't have those words in writing....so they might not have a leg to stand on.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

brii — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:41:39 GMT

On 5/1/2014 Emma bunting said:
On 5/1/2014 brii said:
On 5/1/2014 Emma bunting said:
Bottom line (to me, after reading the article) is that the couple gambled building the home while there was an appeal pending.

They might lose that gamble in the end and be forced to tear the home down.

But the City advised them to proceed, citing the appeal as "procedural."

That is what they are "saying"......I have a feeling they don't have this in writing, which could be problematic.

At any rate, if the appeal is upheld, I see a huge, drawn out lawsuit in the future.

True

I think the home is beautiful. I still don't think it should be torn down.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

croemer — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:45:44 GMT

This in the guidelines stands out to me...therefore...yes they have a problem. It would be a shame but... the guidelines were clear in this paragraph. As emma said they gambled and may lose:

"The guidelines clearly state that any home, any new construction in the historic district should blend in and not stand out," he says. "And a home whose very intent is a living piece of art is intended to stand out."

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

adelle38 — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:46:19 GMT

Oakwood is a neighborhood of historic houses with regulations for building new homes. It's not a matter of neighbors thinking the new house doesn't ""fit in"". They are trying to preserve the historic district and it appears that this couple tried to skirt the regulations.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

brii — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:48:23 GMT

Well, if they don't want any new homes to stand out, there should be only a handful of acceptable designs available.

"standing out" is definitely open to interpretation.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

croemer — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:51:17 GMT

On 5/1/2014 brii said:
Well, if they don't want any new homes to stand out, there should be only a handful of acceptable designs available.

"standing out" is definitely open to interpretation.

I interpret it as...one must build a home which would resemble those from the same time period brii.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

DoneTryin — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:53:01 GMT

No opinion here since I'm not a homeowner & can't guess how I'd feel on either side of that argument.

The residential neighborhood literally around the corner from my apt bldg is very eclectic in style & sometimes I wonder what the property values are. There are simple little 2-bdrm bungalows probably built in the 50s & 60s right next to much newer homes that are certainly larger & grander in appearance.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

straykatz — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:54:56 GMT

I don't know why they wanted to build such a modern home in an older preserved neighborhood other than to make a statement with their modern home design and they are now getting more than they bargained for. Even a NEW modern home can have historic curb appeal if they had tried.

Historic neighborhoods are preserved for a reason.....I come from a town that has a beautiful historic downtown section with several streets lined with 100+ year old victorian style homes.....there is no way a new modern design would have ever get approved to be put on one of these streets.

My thoughts are if you like modern then look for a new modern neighborhood!!!

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

brii — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:56:18 GMT

On 5/1/2014 croemer said:
On 5/1/2014 brii said:
Well, if they don't want any new homes to stand out, there should be only a handful of acceptable designs available.

"standing out" is definitely open to interpretation.

I interpret it as...one must build a home which would resemble those from the same time period brii.

I'd be curious to see what the other homes in the neighborhood look like.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

Emma bunting — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:58:18 GMT

On 5/1/2014 straykatz said:
I don't know why they wanted to build such a modern home in an older preserved neighborhood other than to make a statement with their modern home design and they are now getting more than they bargained for. Even a NEW modern home can have historic curb appeal if they had tried.

Historic neighborhoods are preserved for a reason.....I come from a town that has a beautiful historic downtown section with several streets lined with 100+ year old victorian style homes.....there is no way a new modern design would have ever get approved to be put on one of these streets.

My thoughts are if you like modern then look for a new modern neighborhood!!!

I totally agree with you stray.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

NoelSeven — Thu, 01 May 2014 16:59:32 GMT

On 5/1/2014 brii said:
On 5/1/2014 Emma bunting said:
Bottom line (to me, after reading the article) is that the couple gambled building the home while there was an appeal pending.

They might lose that gamble in the end and be forced to tear the home down.

But the City advised them to proceed, citing the appeal as "procedural."

That, right there, dooms the city unless they deny it.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

NoelSeven — Thu, 01 May 2014 17:02:51 GMT

On 5/1/2014 croemer said:
This in the guidelines stands out to me...therefore...yes they have a problem. It would be a shame but... the guidelines were clear in this paragraph. As emma said they gambled and may lose:

"The guidelines clearly state that any home, any new construction in the historic district should blend in and not stand out," he says. "And a home whose very intent is a living piece of art is intended to stand out."

croemer -

City planning exemptions are common. If they were told it was acceptable, that's it legally.

Actually, I hate it that exemptions are so common. Especially those that exempt size and residential regs.

Re: Not in My Neighborhood???

NoelSeven — Thu, 01 May 2014 17:03:48 GMT

On 5/1/2014 Emma bunting said:
On 5/1/2014 straykatz said:
I don't know why they wanted to build such a modern home in an older preserved neighborhood other than to make a statement with their modern home design and they are now getting more than they bargained for. Even a NEW modern home can have historic curb appeal if they had tried.

Historic neighborhoods are preserved for a reason.....I come from a town that has a beautiful historic downtown section with several streets lined with 100+ year old victorian style homes.....there is no way a new modern design would have ever get approved to be put on one of these streets.

My thoughts are if you like modern then look for a new modern neighborhood!!!

I totally agree with you stray.

I do, too.