We recently ran a story on this place over on Marble Lane near Fair Oaks Mall. Some of the interns were dispatched to check it our and report back to Section Leader Miles and the Boomers who no longer have the enrgy to get up early and work.

The matter at hand falls into the controversy regarding what homeowners can do with real property, subject to existing Fairfax County zoning rules. The matter crosses, if examined, the current generational and ethnic currents in messaging. The home in question is owned by a Vietnamese-American family who wishes to honor the tradition of having his elderly parents live with him and his children. Three generations in one home. No nursing homes, which is why the Boomers were interested but not enough to drive west to check it out.

The owner quietly applied for a permit to build the addition. It was legal and compliant with the rules and immediately caused a firestorm.

His immediate neighbor to the east, with whom he had cordial decade-long relations, consulted a real estate professional as to the impact of the structure on property values. The estimate was that the addition would have a significant negative impact on home values. The neighbor’s house had been appraised at around $800,000 prior to the neighbor’s construction. Now? Price down $300K. You can imagine the emotion connected to the dollars.

The eruption of publicity has made the quiet residential street a sort of 15-Minute County tourist destination. Cars now parade down the lane, some taking pictures of the development and at least one rolling down his window to scream obscenities. The volume of the initial protests resulted in a review by County officials to determine if the addition complied with County regulations. The initial survey indicated the towering structure might be out of keeping with the other homes on the street, but was fully compliant with existing rules.

The County’s position on legality caused more controversy and another survey. The rules are that new construction requires an eight-foot stand-back from property lines. Construction had begun with the intent of full compliance with the permit, and the eight foot set-back was based on the existing fence line. Since it was just a modest fence, no complaint about its placement had been made since the homes were originally constructed some fifty years ago.

According to the new laser measurements, the fence was half a foot in error.

The County accordingly followed up with another inspection. This time, they determined the previously approved construction was in fact in violation of Code. Rather than the required eight feet, County inspectors found the construction was 7 feet and 6 inches from the neighbor’s property line.

The matter has now moved to a separate level, one which would require issuance of a variance to existing code. Or modification or removal of the structure.

Marble Lane is 22 minutes away from the Socotra House World Headquarters, so technically it is beyond the scope of this project. However, we are attempting to chronicle the metamorphosis of Arlington and Fairfax Counties into something that can accommodate a bigger, more robust government. Our building is 14 stories in height, a modest structure in the vibrant and expanding reconstruction along I-64 and the Capitol Beltway. The reconstruction here of the 1970s transformation from agriculture to suburb is now the basis for things bigger and better. It also represents a significant measurement in the advance of high rise construction into suburbia.

We intend to go up to the observation deck later under these clear skies and see if the house on Marble Lane is visible from here.

If not, we can always build something closer, you know?

Photos by Washington Post. Text copyright Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com