Sunroom addition on DC rowhouse

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are you in the Cap HIll Historic District? If so, you have to submit plans - that's as far as my attempt to do exactly the same as you want to do OP, went. My neighbor disregarded the HIstoric District and got slammed for installing much better window frames but not ones that were aesthetically pleasing. She had to yank everything out

OP here—yep, that’s exactly where we are. What happened with your planning?

I gave up once I learned I had to file with the Historic District. They are not inclined to allow anything that will disrupt the exterior aged look of a rowhouse (like my neighbor's new windows, I guess). I told one Design Build firm that it was their responsibility to get the sun room plan approved. Never heard from them after. The Historic District can be very very tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are you in the Cap HIll Historic District? If so, you have to submit plans - that's as far as my attempt to do exactly the same as you want to do OP, went. My neighbor disregarded the HIstoric District and got slammed for installing much better window frames but not ones that were aesthetically pleasing. She had to yank everything out

OP here—yep, that’s exactly where we are. What happened with your planning?

I gave up once I learned I had to file with the Historic District. They are not inclined to allow anything that will disrupt the exterior aged look of a rowhouse (like my neighbor's new windows, I guess). I told one Design Build firm that it was their responsibility to get the sun room plan approved. Never heard from them after. The Historic District can be very very tough.

Same PP as above. I did a quick google. Here's the historic district turning down an application for a sunroom. Dated (2010), I know, but still an example of what you are going to go through. It wasn't worth my time. https://planning.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/op/publication/attachments/Ward_6_BZA_Case_18032.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what do you mean by "sunroom"--like a 3 or 4 season glass enclosure or a framed out room with windows and skylights?

This is OP— that’s what we’re trying to figure out! We want something that can also be used as an office (so is comfortable year round). But it would nice to have a lot of light, too. We’re all over the place right now.

We were in the same boat as you. We found that when builders and architects hear "sunroom" they have some very specific things they're envisioning. So we've shifted to talking about ours as "a one-room addition with lots of windows." Once it's all done I do expect we'll call it "the sunroom" amongst ourselves though!

[Anonymous]

See this is where I actually think “remote work” is not great. Everyone’s houses were all of a sudden too small to fit an office in them. Because that’s an expense your job should provide. Just further encroachment on personal time. I truly hope someday people wake up and realize cell phones/ 24 hour access/ email/ remote work from home have eroded workers rights even further.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See this is where I actually think “remote work” is not great. Everyone’s houses were all of a sudden too small to fit an office in them. Because that’s an expense your job should provide. Just further encroachment on personal time. I truly hope someday people wake up and realize cell phones/ 24 hour access/ email/ remote work from home have eroded workers rights even further.

I like the flexibility of remote work but it has meant that my office is getting rid of space. Now it’s all hoteling/cubicles at the office and no privacy. Makes me want to go in less and need a better space to work from home if this is the norm going forward!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what do you mean by "sunroom"--like a 3 or 4 season glass enclosure or a framed out room with windows and skylights?

This is OP— that’s what we’re trying to figure out! We want something that can also be used as an office (so is comfortable year round). But it would nice to have a lot of light, too. We’re all over the place right now.

We were in the same boat as you. We found that when builders and architects hear "sunroom" they have some very specific things they're envisioning. So we've shifted to talking about ours as "a one-room addition with lots of windows." Once it's all done I do expect we'll call it "the sunroom" amongst ourselves though!

OP here— that’s what I’m learning! Can you share anything about your process? We are obviously at the beginning stage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:are you in the Cap HIll Historic District? If so, you have to submit plans - that's as far as my attempt to do exactly the same as you want to do OP, went. My neighbor disregarded the HIstoric District and got slammed for installing much better window frames but not ones that were aesthetically pleasing. She had to yank everything out

OP here—yep, that’s exactly where we are. What happened with your planning?

I gave up once I learned I had to file with the Historic District. They are not inclined to allow anything that will disrupt the exterior aged look of a rowhouse (like my neighbor's new windows, I guess). I told one Design Build firm that it was their responsibility to get the sun room plan approved. Never heard from them after. The Historic District can be very very tough.

Same PP as above. I did a quick google. Here's the historic district turning down an application for a sunroom. Dated (2010), I know, but still an example of what you are going to go through. It wasn't worth my time. https://planning.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/op/publication/attachments/Ward_6_BZA_Case_18032.pdf

Very helpful, thank you