The other day, a reader wondered about two homes currently getting a little work done on the 2200 block of Montrose Street. These homes are mere steps away from Julian Abele Park, the still newish park that represents one of the few public green spaces in the neighborhood.
We stopped by recently to get a closer look, and learned, to our surprise, that neither rehab job is being done with the intent to flip. 2208 Montrose St., purchased by a couple at the end of last year, is getting a significant rehab and a third floor addition. Note the setback, required by the zoning code. It will be occupied, when the work is done, by the owners. The home next door is only getting work done, according to the contractors on the site, because the owner saw they were doing work at 2208. This project includes some interior work as well as the addition of a new roof deck. When they're done, the property will be a rental.
It's easy for us to say because it ain't our money, but we would have looked carefully at adding a third story to 2210 Montrose St.- as it sits next to a three story home, a third floor would have been permitted by right without a setback. And if the timing had been different, and 2210 did this before work began at 2208, a setback wouldn't have been necessary there. Further proof that the three-story home on two-story block section of the code still needs improvement. Just don't eliminate them, okay?