[Rummyfan]

The county granted the couple new permits, then voided them and halted construction when neighbors pointed out the house was originally built seven feet too close to the street and two feet too close to the home of William Hamilton, an editor at the Washington Post, and his wife, Jane Mayer, a staff writer for the New Yorker.

Mr. Hamilton and Mrs. Mayer; ABC News reporter Jackie Judd; and prominent lawyer Michael Eig and his wife, Emily, are among those who have complained about the Duffys' home. Kristin Gerlach, owner of Gerlach Real Estate Inc., also testified against them.

Seems like there must be more to this story. Why have all these people ganged up on this family, just over seven feet too close to the road and two feet too close to a neighboring house?

[linda_22003]

Here in the DC area, there is a lot of bad feeling (especially in older, close-in suburbs like Arlington, Bethesda, and Chevy Chase) about people tearing down older houses and building monster houses that do not really fit in, and dwarf and impinge on their neighbors. I'm sure that feeling is helping to fuel this problem.

However, in this case, it sounds like the owners did everything they could to work within the system, and the county screwed up. If they do have to tear down, I think the county should have liability for the permits it approved.

[bondjamesbond]

Seems like there must be more to this story. Why have all these people ganged up on this family, just over seven feet too close to the road and two feet too close to a neighboring house?

Whay you are missing is the names. Hamilton, Mayer, Judd and Eig. Publisher of the Washington Post, NY Times Reporter, ABC News Reporter and prominent laywer.

These are the People Who Matter (PWMs). It appears that Duffys are not PWMs.

In Washington DC, that's all you need to know.

[petercooper]

put Mark Levin on the case

[IamConservative]

Seems like there must be more to this story. Why have all these people ganged up on this family, just over seven feet too close to the road and two feet too close to a neighboring house?

More liberal inclusiveness I am sure. Unfortunately, even if the neighbors don't make an issue out of it, without the zoning variance, the house is worthless.

[JZelle]

"Why have all these people ganged up on this family"


Maybe it was the "Bush/Cheney" sticker on the back of their SUV.

[Diddle E. Squat]

While not yet taking sides, check out who is involved (post 13.) Posts 127, 128, and 131 may also be of interest.

[norton]

Not particularly a reply to rummyfan, but,
an original error in distance between houses/property lines would likely be considered as grandfathered into the deal - certainly no one would be expected to move the house over even had they started off to replace over half the structure.
and
As to the originally issued permits, I think that you can't sue a government employee or agency for lawfully carrying out their legitimate duties. Maybe they could sue over the revocation and subsequent actions as being not legitimate due to outside pressure or simple opportunism.

Finally, watch to see who, or who's agents, are lined up to buy the property...

[fullchroma]

I bet there's more to the story, too.

Mrs. Duffy said the Eigs have supported a similar variance request from another neighbor.

Wonder if the Duffy's have an SUV with a Bush bumpersticker? Hmmmm.