Fine-Tuning Design

The past several weeks we've been fine-tuning the building design for the Planning Board and our HUD consultant.  It's not really "we" because Rick’s doing all the work.  I’m just providing the moral support for all his grueling hours and my thoughts on the design as it forms.

Rick updated the site plan to include more detail on the retaining walls that will terrace the steep slopes on one side of the building.  The site plan also includes the trees we're removing and the ones we’re planting.  

One specific tree absolutely must go because it’s growing right up the side of the structure at the bottom of the basement!

We plan to put a small deck on one side of the building for access to the electric meters.  We were debating on making this a larger deck or another terraced area with a retaining wall, but it doesn't seem worth it at this point.  We may re-visit the idea of a deck, along with other wish list items a few years down the road. 

About a month ago we got the awesome news of our preliminary loan approval through the 203(k) process.  Since then we've met with our HUD consultant to prepare the work write-up that will kick-start contractor bidding.

The next few weeks we'll continue fine-tuning the design as we move forward on our submissions to the architectural review board.  More to follow!

Slopes: 1-story in front, 3-stories in back

Our friend Andrew in Vancouver, BC started reading our blog and reported back that he wants to see the sides and back of the building to get a better idea of the whole shell.  This reminded me that we haven't yet posted anything on the limitation/benefit that our side slopes pose.  

When you look at our building from the street, it look like a one-story structure with a bunch of trees around it.  In fact, on the tax roll, the building is considered a one-story structure.

However, from the back the building is actually three stories tall.  All the buildings on this side of the street are built on a slope, so there's more building below the street level.

The steep slopes on both sides of the building are both a blessing and a curse.  The bad part is the erosion from the steep slopes is eating away portions of the hill.  

The previous owner built a ramp on one side of the building to easily roll in deliveries from the street to the level below, without the need to go through the inside stairs.

The benefit of the steep slopes is that they shelter our home from the busy downtown street on the front and affords us views of the little stream in the back.