[VA] Dispute between neighbors in Del Ray

[Anonymous]

Wow. I'm even more thankful for my neighbors after reading this. This guy is building a garage two feet from his neighbors' kitchen windows, apparently out of spite.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/in-friendly-del-ray-a-decidely-unneighborly-dispute/2016/09/08/d84e5bd2-705c-11e6-9705-23e51a2f424d_story.html?hpid=hp_local-news_delraydispute-610am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

[Anonymous]

What a jerk! Makes my Round-up happy neighbor look good in comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. I'm even more thankful for my neighbors after reading this. This guy is building a garage two feet from his neighbors' kitchen windows, apparently out of spite.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/in-friendly-del-ray-a-decidely-unneighborly-dispute/2016/09/08/d84e5bd2-705c-11e6-9705-23e51a2f424d_story.html?hpid=hp_local-news_delraydispute-610am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

This is why I like living further out with a larger yard. This is a companion piece to the folks in DC fighting over a treehouse and the people in Chevy Chase fighting over a shared driveway.

[Anonymous]

Interesting. It seems shady that he was on a committee that helped change the setback distance.

I think that should have been a conflict of interest he probably should have disclosed to sit on that committee. I hope he wasn't paid, that could affect his license from VADPOR. If his neighbors wanted to get him back, they should report him for not acting ethically to the licensing board. It would probably make his life miserable for a while.

[Anonymous]

I can't access the article. Can anyone post the content?

[Anonymous]

He's a peach. He looks so happy in the photo.

[Anonymous]

I actually think the couple who feel entitled to a view of his yard and are filming him are the asses here.

[Anonymous]

What a freakin scumbag and boo on the city for letting him get away with this behavior and stonewalling the neighbors when they complained.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't access the article. Can anyone post the content?

That's against DCUM IP policy.

Clear your cookies, and then try the link again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't access the article. Can anyone post the content?

OP here. Short summary:

Guy named Nichols who happens to be an architect builds three other houses next to his home in Del Ray, envisioning shared outdoor space. However, over the years the owners of these three homes put up tree/shrub barriers, which wasn't in alignment with his vision. Nichols had a dispute with a neighbor at some point, and another couple, the Linehans, refused to take sides. Then, in 2013, the Linehans used another architect to make major changes to the layout of their home. The Linehans think that Nichols is now building a garage right up to the property line--and only two feet from their kitchen window--out of spite for the earlier events.

That's the gist, I think, although other PPs feel free to add/correct any details.

[Anonymous]

Good fences make good neighbors. Nichols has no right to be upset about neighbors planting trees and shrubs and the Linehans shouldn't have expected their view outside their kitchen window to be anything special when it's only 2 feet from the property line. If Nichols wanted to maintain open visual space, he should have built those three houses as townhouses and had the grounds owned by the association. These people are all ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good fences make good neighbors. Nichols has no right to be upset about neighbors planting trees and shrubs and the Linehans shouldn't have expected their view outside their kitchen window to be anything special when it's only 2 feet from the property line. If Nichols wanted to maintain open visual space, he should have built those three houses as townhouses and had the grounds owned by the association. These people are all ridiculous.

Don't disagree with any of this.

I am a PP and still think it was unethical of the Architect to influence city regulations - changing of setback from 8 feet to 1 foot- when he clearly had a plan in mind to build near a neighbor. Now he doesn't have to ask for a waiver and permission from that neighbor.

Still, I live 6 feet from my neighbor and if they decide to put a large building within a foot of my property, I know I will have to live with it. That's life with a small yard.

[Anonymous]

I am having a hard time feeling sorry for any of them. Maybe the city employees who have to mediate this dumbassery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a jerk! Makes my Round-up happy neighbor look good in comparison.

Doubt it. Your neighbor is killing everything, not just the weeds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good fences make good neighbors. Nichols has no right to be upset about neighbors planting trees and shrubs and the Linehans shouldn't have expected their view outside their kitchen window to be anything special when it's only 2 feet from the property line. If Nichols wanted to maintain open visual space, he should have built those three houses as townhouses and had the grounds owned by the association. These people are all ridiculous.

Don't disagree with any of this.

I am a PP and still think it was unethical of the Architect to influence city regulations - changing of setback from 8 feet to 1 foot- when he clearly had a plan in mind to build near a neighbor. Now he doesn't have to ask for a waiver and permission from that neighbor.

Still, I live 6 feet from my neighbor and if they decide to put a large building within a foot of my property, I know I will have to live with it. That's life with a small yard.

+1