Move Over ADUs: An Additional Single-Family Home Proposed for Langdon Lot

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. 

New development in North Shaw mixes rental apartments and for-purchase townhouses

The Washington Post - By Michele Lerner

New luxury residential developments in the District are a common sight, with former rowhouses and empty lots transformed into contemporary-style living spaces with marble, high ceilings, hardwood floors and a rooftop deck. But it’s more unusual to find a new development that includes rental apartments and townhouses.

At Euclid Heights, located near Howard University in North Shaw, Casbro Development built a three-unit rental building at 725 Euclid St. NW and two townhouses with four levels each at 727-A and 727-B Euclid St. NW. All the units, including rentals and for-purchase residences, have private outdoor spaces.

The rental units, which range in size from 928 to 1,476 square feet, include two or three bedrooms and two full bathrooms and rent from $3,495 to $5,995 per month.

The townhouses, designed by architect KC Price with interiors by Akseizer Design Group, each have four levels with five bedrooms and five bathrooms and include a fully finished lower level, each with its own private entrance. The homes have private rooftop decks in addition to balconies and patios, along with secure parking in a gated area. Priced from $1.7 million to $2 million, the townhouses each have 3,000 square feet with 10-foot ceilings and a custom-designed home automation system.

The most notable feature of the townhouses are their size, says Timur Loynab, a principal with CondoNest. They were designed to appeal to a family with the need for extra space that doesn’t want to move out of the city, he says.