Sunday, May 10, 2015

Bloomingdale pop-ups and Zoning Case 14-11: what would be permitted and what would be prohibited ?

Before you read this blog post, you should read the related prior post on Zoning Case No. 14-11  -- the proposed zoning R-4 zoning regulations.  Go here.  You need to be familiar with what 14-11 includes.

Now that you have reviewed the features of 14-11, how would they apply to the R-4-zoned areas of Bloomingdale?

Bloomingdale has pop-ups that can categorized by these types:
  1. retention of the existing turret or architectural element (which complies with 14-11)
  2. removal of the existing turret or architectural element altogether (which would violate 14-11)
  3. removal of the existing turret and re-attaching it on top of the new-construction pop-up (which would violate 14-11)
  4. altering an existing turret -- by building into the back of the turret for the pop-up (which would violate 14-11)
Bloomingdale has pop-backs that can be categorized as:
  1. 10 feet or shorter past the rear of the buildings on either side (which complies with 14-11)
  2. greater than 10 feet deep past the rear of the buildings on either side (which would violate 14-11)
How do Bloomingdale's pop-ups and pop-backs measure up against Zoning Case. No. 14-11?

Pop-up Type #1: retention of the existing turret or architectural element (which complies with 14-11)



The existing roofline is maintained. The pop-back does not appear to be greater than 10 feet deeper than the rowhouse next door. Therefore, I don't believe that 14-11 would have impacted this pop-up & pop-back.


Pop-up Type #2: Pop removal of the existing turret or architectural element altogether (which would violate 14-11)

                                           

Since the original turret was removed, this pop-up as is would be prohibited. The third floor could have been constructed behind the existing turret, however.  Note that 14-11 does not address building materials at all.

Another example of Type #2:  
        

    
Since the original turret was removed, this pop-up as is would be prohibited. The third floor could have been constructed behind the existing turret, however.

And another example of Type #2:
   

   
Since the original turret was removed, this pop-up as is would be prohibited. The third floor could have been constructed behind the existing turret, however.

Yet another example of Type #2:



Since the original roofline architectural element was removed, this pop-up as is would be prohibited. The third floor could have been constructed behind the existing roofline, however.


Pop-up Type #3: removal of the existing turret and re-attaching it on top of the new-construction pop-up (which would violate 14-11)



Even though the existing turret was removed and re-attached to the top of the new-construction pop-up, Zoning Case No. 14-11 would prohibit this.

Pop-up Type #4: altering an existing turret -- by building into the back of the turret for the pop-up (which would violate 14-11)
         

This third floor pop-up builds into the existing turret from the rear, which would be prohibited under 14-11. The front of the third floor could be constructed just behind the existing turret, however. 


Pop-back Type #1: 10 feet or shorter past the rear of the buildings on either side (which complies with 14-11)




The pop-back portion of this pop-up is less than 10 feet deep and would therefore be permitted under 14-11.

Pop-back Type #2:  greater than 10 feet deep past the rear of the buildings on either side (which would violate 14-11)



This pop-back exceeds 10 feet deeper than the rears of the rowhouses on either side.  Neither the pop-up or pop-back would be permitted under 14-11, without a zoning special exception.


And finally an example of a pop-up that would not be governed by 14-11:



Zoning Case. No. 14-11 only applies to R-4.  The 1833 1st St NW pop-up shown above is zoned C-2-A and therefore would not be governed by 14-11.

2 comments:

Bloomingdale Resident said...

Thanks, Scott, for helping us understand the proposed zoning changes.

J.T. said...

Very informative. Thank you, Scott.