D.C. homeowner continues his six-year fight to renovate his property
The Tenleytown resident has spent years negotiating for the ability to renovate his garage to create a safer living and working environment for his family and employees.
By Casey Bacot for COMM-320 at American University
A D.C. homeowner wants to renovate his current lot to better fit his need after facing serious issues regarding safety and destruction of property. Problems arose when zoning laws changed mid-project and neighbors did not approve the renovation.
Nick Alten has lived in and worked out of his Tenleytown home since 2006. The home was built in 1939. While Alten has been able to make necessary interior improvements to his home, he wants to rebuild his garage to accommodate his work vehicle and a personal vehicle and create more storage space. He made this decision following his work truck’s fifth break-in which included slashed tires, broken windows, and hundreds of dollars of stolen property.
The Alten’s current garage, originally built in 1939.
Alten has been meeting with his local Advisory Neighborhood Commission since December 2021 but has been working to get approvals and permits from the city since 2016. He has been facing delays since the beginning of this project because of a change in the zoning code, disapproving neighbors, and personal issues. This project would be considered an ADU which has very specific rules set in place that Alten is adhering to.
The ANC is the first legislative step for Alten to receive approval for this project. If his local ANC pushes forward a positive resolution, he will have a much better chance at getting project approval.
“By DC's Home Rule Act, the Board of Zoning Adjustments must afford the ANC’s support or disapproval with great weight," according to commissioner Matthew Cohen.
Alten’s problem may stem back to the preservation of the original neighborhood. While Alten does run his construction company out of his home, he said that he has “only worked on this site for a total of about 40 days of the 15 years” that they have been located there.
Two of Alten’s neighbors spoke in the ANC 3E meeting on Feb. 9 regarding their concerns of shadows, disrupted views, construction runoff, and general aesthetic issues. Neither wanted to speak on the issue when contacted. One neighbor sent a letter of concern to the homes surrounding Alten’s which he said was “full of lies.” He has come to the conclusion that much of the issue comes from a lack of communication between him and his neighbors. “Not a single person has come to us, which is what torques me.”
Alten’s wife, Valeria said, “the neighborhood has changed” since the homes were originally built. Necessary renovations have been made on several houses in the area in the past few years creating a more modern look in the neighborhood. Alten revealed that almost every home in the neighborhood costs upwards of $1 million. His home was $200,000 when it was purchased.
Alten will speak two more times in front of the ANC before he brings his case to the city board on April 8, 2022.
