The A**hole neighbors of mine

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP. I never bitched. Maybe I should have. Yes, the neighbors did "inflict" it. They didn't mean to frustrate us but, seriously, they chose the time, the contractors, everything. I had no control over the situation. Still, I didn't bitch because I understood they were trying to get the work done and that they weren't out to get us. That doesn't mean it wasn't a difficult situation. Let's bring it back to the OP. She called her neighbors "assholes." Just because they are frustrated and are trying to ensure that they are protected throughout the process she is choosing to put them through doesn't necessarily make them assholes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So....should we all forgo any sort of remodeling so that we don't inconvenience our neighbors with noise or trucks or porta potties on our property during the day?

Not at all what people are saying. But preparing neighbors for the level of disruption is the neighborly thing to do. Golden rule, people.

ITA. If OP wanted neighbors to extend the courtesy of talking to her about their concerns with the construction before going to the board, perhaps she should have extended the same courtesy herself by talking to her neighbors ahead of time. This sort of thing takes weeks (if not months) of planning, and I wonder why part of that planning process didn't involve talking to the neighbors.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We did talk to the neighbors. We told them the contractor and architect that we would be using and told them when this would be presented to our review board and invited them to attend. We gave them the time frame and what would be done. We even showed them the blueprints..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We did talk to the neighbors. We told them the contractor and architect that we would be using and told them when this would be presented to our review board and invited them to attend. We gave them the time frame and what would be done. We even showed them the blueprints..

But, did you ask them if they had any concerns that you could address before it went to the review board? It sounds like you basically told your neighbors, this is what we're doing and if you have concerns, go to the review board--which is what they are doing, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP- Yes, of course. But still, some neighbors find a reason to b*tch even when they have been notified or when the people doing the remodeling go out of their way to make things easier and more comfortable on neighbors. PP said it was hard for them to live through something the remodeling neighbors chose to "inflict" on them.

This is completely true. We just built a modest-sized home that replaced a nearly 100-year old 800 sq ft building. Our home is farther away from the property line than the previous structure, our builder went and met with each neighbor prior to construction beginning, and STILL the attorney neighbor decided to file a nuisance lawsuit (in the hopes of getting $$ from the builder as she eventually admitted to us). Of course, the builder passed the attorney fees to defend the idiocy on to us -- thanks, neighbor! The neighbor across the street called the county almost weekly to complain about something to the point where those office workers have told us they knew her voice as soon as she called. None of her complaints had any grounds.

They SO didn't want anything in their little area to change that they made what should have been a happy time for us instead filled with more stress and angst than it had to be. If they had wanted control over what happened to the property, then THEY should have bought it!

The irony is that the neighbor behind us, who sold us the property and could have the most reason to have problems with any improvements, have been the kindest, nicest, and most pleasant people around.

Even if you bend over backwards to reach out and be neighborly in advance of such a project, that is no guarantee that your neighbors will give you the same courtesy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP- Yes, of course. But still, some neighbors find a reason to b*tch even when they have been notified or when the people doing the remodeling go out of their way to make things easier and more comfortable on neighbors. PP said it was hard for them to live through something the remodeling neighbors chose to "inflict" on them.

This is completely true. We just built a modest-sized home that replaced a nearly 100-year old 800 sq ft building. Our home is farther away from the property line than the previous structure, our builder went and met with each neighbor prior to construction beginning, and STILL the attorney neighbor decided to file a nuisance lawsuit (in the hopes of getting $$ from the builder as she eventually admitted to us). Of course, the builder passed the attorney fees to defend the idiocy on to us -- thanks, neighbor! The neighbor across the street called the county almost weekly to complain about something to the point where those office workers have told us they knew her voice as soon as she called. None of her complaints had any grounds.

They SO didn't want anything in their little area to change that they made what should have been a happy time for us instead filled with more stress and angst than it had to be. If they had wanted control over what happened to the property, then THEY should have bought it!

The irony is that the neighbor behind us, who sold us the property and could have the most reason to have problems with any improvements, have been the kindest, nicest, and most pleasant people around.

Even if you bend over backwards to reach out and be neighborly in advance of such a project, that is no guarantee that your neighbors will give you the same courtesy.

Very well stated. Thank you. What a mess you had with the attorney neighbor. I can't even imagine. How awful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our wonderful neighbors built an addition a few years ago. We all get along great but, really, that construction project really strained our relationship for awhile. After all, as their immediate neighbors, we had to put up with a lot of the headaches with none of the benefits. For instance, trucks backing down our shared driveway (beeping away) at 7 am, a porta-john on the line between our front yards, strange workers / trucks coming down the driveway ALL THE TIME (no way I could leave DC out there for even a few seconds to ride his bike), noise, noise, and more noise (even on the weekends - neighbor tried to keep all the work to the work week but, when the contractors ran short on time, they were hammering away on Sunday mornings too)! Their yard, which borders ours, was ripped up so all water flowed to our grass, leaving huge puddles. All the additional traffic on the shared drive resulted in cracks and divots. Thus, we all had to go in and reasphalt the drive when the work was completed. In the end, it was very, very difficult for us. They had a beautiful new addition and we had built-up resentment that we needed to sock away for the sake of peaceful living. All this to say, your neighbors should talk to you - yes. BUT you really need to consider their feelings and peace of mind. Just because your Architectural Review Board says it's okay, doesn't mean that the neighbors are particularly happy with your choices. It just means that they know that there is little they can do to stop it. Our neighbors did their best to go out of their way to make it easier on us (even if there was little they COULD do most of the time -- after all, they couldn't live in their house so they weren't even onsite most of the time!)) but it was still very difficult.

This is the typical bitter attitude of the bethesda bungalow dwellers. They will get all pissy if you decide to build a normal sized house (they call it a mcmansion) on your own property. It's not our fault you want a midget house or can't afford a bigger one.

You're funny. Wikipedia has a nice definition of McMansion
a type of large, new luxury house which is judged to be pretentious, tasteless, or — especially — incongruous for its neighborhood. Alternately, a McMansion can be a large, new house in a sub-division of similarly large houses, which all seem mass produced and lacking distinguishing characteristics, as well as at variance with the traditional local architecture.

The type of McMansions giong up in East Bethesda are of the first variety. They also seem to be poorly constructed for the prices they command.

Your opinion is not correct because if they are being sold for the price commanded or for more than the original houses you are wrong.

[Anonymous]

You're all wrong, people! Gingrich 2012!

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone should be allowed to renovate. Then houses would look like garbage and property values would fall. Sound good?

[Anonymous]

and if your neighbors happen to read DCUM OP, you just made a bad situation worse. Let the neighborly passive aggression begin.

[Anonymous]

We live in a Bethesda like place (hold your nose here). Every last neighbor either has a new house or an ass-awful renovation that looks piecemeal and out of place. The latter calls the former mcmansions because lets face it, if they could afford a normal looking house, they would (see PP). The piecemealers think they can dictate the neighborhood, somehow. Which is ironic, because they pay half the taxes they should, so they really are antagonizing the wrong people. OP, I have a million ways to get back at disrespectful neighbors, from video cameras to back taxes. They think they have the upper hand, until they get bit in the ass. If they are not playing nice, there is no reason for you to have to play nice either.

That said, I do agree with the neighbor next door NOT getting his grass torn up. No matter who owns the grass, it looks really bad and is a problem in many ways once it is dug up. Your construction/visitors do not have to be their problem. I would mind your side of the fence, lest they have half as many tricks in their bag as I might (as your neighbor). Revenge is a dish best served cold.

[Anonymous]

I have some neighbors who were really "neighborly" about their renovations and some, not so much. Filed that information away for next time!

[Anonymous]

We're on Foxhall Rd and one neighbor built a large barn-like house in their own backyard. Didn't knock down the original home, a quaint little victorian type in keeping with the neighborhood. Just awful. It is their property so they are allowed to do what they want, but the whole street was appalled. I'm sure they thought the complaining neighbors were a#$holes also. And the neighbors thought they were. Oh well.

[Anonymous]

Chiming in late here, but I think the point is, the neighboors had the opportunity to express any concerns to the review board. Now, AFTER the OP got their permit, the neighbors, through an attorney, are complaining.

Yes, that is a total PIA.

[Anonymous]

OP the answer is simple. Yes, it would be nice if some people had asshole signs in front of their house so we could not move in next to them, incurring time, hassle, investment and expense. They fail to realize the world does not revolve around them, making our purpose in this universe to remind them. Do so. If they hire an attorney, you hire a better attorney. Simple. Have fun!